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HARRY’S RUNAWAY AND WHAT CAME OF IT. 
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HARRY’S RUNAWAY 
AND WHAT CAME OE IT 











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RESIDE THE BRIGHTLY BLAZING FIRE 


Page 10 








[ UoKftrtY of CONGRESS I 
J iwu GooJes Received I 

OCT v I30T 

i ^ooyneht Entry 

Ly7y/y . 5 " /^oy 

j CLASiy ^ XXc., No. 

/S/f^o 

I COPY B. 


COPYRIGHT 1907 BY H. M. MILLER 
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED 

Published October igoy 



PREFACE 


Nearly every story in this book is true. 
Names and places are of course changed, but 
the principal facts, the adventures and their 
results to the hoys, are strictly true. 


Olive Thorne Miller 


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CONTENTS 


I. How Harry ran away .... 1 

II. The Capture of Tommy .... 29 

III. Lon Gaylord’s Runaway .... 67 

IV. Ned’s Adventure with Tramps . . 83 

V. The Tables Turned 101 

VI. Rob’s Last Joke 122 

VII. Stealing a Banquet 137 

VIII. In the Wild West 151 

IX. How Arty went to the Mines . . . 177 

X. How George played Burglar . . 194 


XI. The Mystery of Dean’s Hollow . . 202 

XII. A Boy’s Den in the Woods . . . 219 

XIII. The Dog’s Revenge 237 


0 


ILLUSTRATIONS 


Beside the brightly blazing fire (page 10 ) ^ 

Frontispiece 

“ Give it back ! ” said Lon 66 ^ 

They gathered around the two boys . . 164 ^ 

Carl handed down the gun 228 ^ 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


CHAPTER I 
HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 

won’t stand it much longer, anyway/’ 
said Harry Barnes defiantly, digging the blade 
of his knife into a piece of wood. 

What ’ll you do ?” asked his companion, a 
rather delicate-looking boy, two years younger 
than he. 

I ’ll run away. That ’s what,” answered 
Harry quickly. And I tell you what, Fred, 
I ’ve thought of a splendid plan for us — 
you ’ll go, of course ? ” 

Yes,” said Fred gloomily, I ’ll do any- 
thing to get rid of being treated like a baby 
and fed on slops. I think when a boy ’s twelve 
years old he might eat what he ’s a mind to.” 

So do I,” answered Harry ; but that ’s 
nothing to being an errand-boy for a boarding- 


2 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


house. It ’s ^ Harry, do this/ and ‘ Harry, go 
get that,’ from morning to night, and I ’m 
about sick of it. How do you suppose I like 
to bring a great dish of butter through the 
streets, and have Aunt stand in the door and 
call out, ^ Hurry up ! the table is waiting ! ’ so 
everybody can hear? Why, I hardly ever get 
to school before the bell rings, and I never 
have time to play ball after school, I have so 
many errands to do.” 

Why don’t you tell her you won’t do 
it ?” asked Fred. She is n’t your mother.” 

did say something once,” said Harry, 
^^and got a precious lecture to pay for it, 
about being an expense to her, and she obliged 
to work hard for her living, and so on. It 
was sickening — I won’t say anything — I ’ll 
run away, and mighty soon, too,” he added, 
decidedly. 

‘^Well, what is your plan?” asked Fred. 

To go out West and fight Indians ? ” 

No,” said Harry scornfully. Those stories 
are ridiculous ! How could we get out W est, to 
begin with, and how could we fight if we did ? 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


3 


My plan is better than that. It is this ; to go 
to Brown’s Tract, which is only forty miles, 
you know, so we can easily walk there, and 
shoot deer and things, and live in a cave or 
somewhere. I know we can do it,” he went on 
excitedly. I ’ve heard some gentlemen at our 
house talk about it — they go every summer 
— and it’s just as easy ! I ’ve listened to what 
they said, and I know what we want, and how 
to fish, and cook things, and everything ! ” 
What do we want ? ” asked Fred, and 
how can we get it ? ” 

^^Well, we want provisions enough for a 
few days, till we get where the game is ; and 
we want warm clothes, plenty of matches, and 
guns, of course. Oh, yes — and fishhooks and 
lines ; poles we can cut anywhere,” he went 
on earnestly. tell you, Fred, we can have 
grand old times there by ourselves, with no 
one to order us around.” 

Nor to make us eat oatmeal and stuff,” 
added Fred. ^^Well, when shall we go, and 
how shall we get away ? ” he went on eagerly. 
We’ll go as soon as we can slip out the 


4 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


things we need ; and as for the way — nothing 
is easier, I ’ll tell you.” 

After a long talk, in which everything was 
arranged, the boys separated, and both went 
home with their heads full of plans and ex- 
citement. They had agreed to carry a part of 
their outfit that very evening to a certain 
place settled upon, so that they should not 
be too much loaded the next evening, when 
they intended to go to stay. 

Accordingly, that night they met at a cer- 
tain corner, and made their way quietly 
towards an old barn on the edge of the city 
that Fred happened to know was empty at 
present and not hard to get into. They were 
both well loaded down, and this is what they 
had. Harry had brought a gun which had 
belonged to his uncle and had seen service 
years ago, but was now out of repair and 
rusty from long disuse. Harry thought he 
could clean it up, and to that end had brought 
some rags, and polish, and oil, — anyway, 
clean or not clean, they must of course have 
a gun. To this was added a suit of last win- 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 5 

ter’s clothes, a pair of boots which had been 
cast o£E by one of the boarders (and he had 
long wanted to wear) , an old knapsack, a 
powder-horn, half full, a game-bag, an old 
silver watch that wouldn’t go, and half a 
dozen pocket knives. 

I always have dozens of knives,” said he, 
when Fred asked how he got so many. Every 
boarder who wants to give me anything always 
gives a knife. I had five last Christmas,” he 
added grumblingly ; but what have you 
brought ? ” 

Fred displayed his treasures. An old-fash- 
ioned horse-pistol, — rather large,” he said, 
‘‘ but good to shoot; ” a box of caps ; a sword 
that his father had worn in the war; an 
air-pistol that shot slugs ; an overcoat of his 
father’s (he could n’t find his winter clothes), 
and a hatchet. 

They’re all first rate,” said Harry. Now 
to-morrow night we must bring provisions. 
We must have enough to last two or three 
days, till we can shoot something, and of course 
all the money we can get. We won’t need 


6 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


any in the woods, but if we could get a chance 
to ride part of the way we’d be sure to get 
far away before they caught us. Once in the 
woods, and we can defy them ! ” 

I have n’t much money,” said Fred, — 
about fifty cents.” 

^^Well, I haven’t any more myself,” said 
Harry bitterly. never have any money, 
unless one of the boarders pays me for doing 
an errand ; I believe Aunt thinks boys never 
want money. Never mind,” he went on, shak- 
ing his fist towards the house, just wait till 
I get into the woods and become a hunter ! 
you may keep your old money then ! ” and he 
snapped his fingers in utter contempt. 

The next evening everything seemed to 
favor the boys, and at nine o’clock, as they 
had agreed, they met at the old corner, and 
hurried to the empty barn. 

Did anybody see you ? ” whispered Harry 
anxiously, as they hastily turned into a dark 
street. 

^^No; everybody went to meeting at our 
house,” said Fred, ^^and I had a splendid 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


7 


chance to rummage the pantry. What did you 
get?” he asked eagerly. 

Oh, some pies and things,” said Harry, 
who cared far less for that part of the fun 
than for the hunting and fishing. 

When safely housed in a barn, and Harry 
had lighted a candle he had brought, the trea- 
sures were spread out, and made a curious 
show. Fred, remembering bitterly what his 
mother would not let him eat, had emptied 
the cake box, and now proudly displayed half 
of a rich fruit cake, a whole cocoanut cake 
with frosting, and several pieces of jelly and 
chocolate cake. Besides these luxuries, on 
which his eyes rested greedily, he had brought 
a small jar of raspberry jam and another of 
marmalade ; and every pocket was stuffed with 
raisins, which he was eating all the time. 

I mean to have goodies enough for once,” 
he said exultingly. We ’ll see how much it’ll 
make me sick ! — that ’s all stuff ! ” 

He did see in due time ; but now Harry 
opened his pack. He had been unable to get 
at the cake box, but had made a tolerable haul 


8 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


in spite of that. He had two pies, a lemon 
and a mince, some lobster salad, part of a cold 
plum pudding, two pockets full of nuts, a 
large slice of cheese, and a jar of piccalilli. 

In their whole stock there was not a particle 
of bread or plain meat — nothing but the rich- 
est of dainties. To their boyish notions there 
was nothing amiss ; bread and meat and plain 
food were not at all to their taste. 

They celebrated the first night by a feast, 
after which they spent some time in packing 
things into shape for traveling, leaving out a 
choice assortment of cake and pie for break- 
fast. They then lay down on some hay, and 
tried to sleep. But whether because of their 
rich supper or from excitement, they could 
not sleep, and were up and ready to be off by 
the first streak of daylight. They felt the need 
of haste now, for they knew it would not be 
long before they would be missed, and the 
rifled pantries would tell of their exploit. 

Having dressed themselves in boots and 
overcoat, with sword, hatchet, gun, and pistol 
by their sides, and heavily loaded with pro- 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


9 


visions, the two boys started out along the 
road. Before they had gone far, however, they 
were overtaken by a peddler’s wagon, which, 
with two strong horses, was just starting on a 
tour among the surrounding villages. 

It was going their way, and Harry soon 
made a bargain with the driver to take them 
as far as he went on their road, and they 
climbed up to the high seat, very glad to be 
relieved of their heavy loads. 

About the middle of the afternoon the 
peddler set them down near an entrance to 
the vast extent of woods belonging to the 
Adirondack country, and called Brown’s Tract, 
with all their belongings, and not a cent in 
the world. 

Little did the boys think of that, as they 
entered the gloomy woods exultingly, feeling 
that they had reached the end of their trou- 
bles and the world was opening before them. 

First,” said Harry, who as the elder always 
took the lead, we must find a place to camp.” 

We ought to have brought a tent,” said 
Fred. 


10 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


It would be nice/’ said Harry, but we 
had enough to carry without it.” 

So we did/’ said Fred, and besides, a 
cave ’ll be nicer.” 

cave is just the thing,” said Harry 
eagerly. Let ’s look for one.” 

They spent the afternoon in wandering 
about in the search, and by great good luck 
did find a hole in the side of a hill, which 
with a little enlarging and clearing out, did 
very well for a cave. In this they placed their 
treasures, and then gathered sticks for a fire, 
and cut some large branches to set up in the 
ground as a sort of screen before their cave. 

It was quite dark before this work was all 
done, and beside the brightly blazing fire the 
two tired boys at last sat down, and spread 
out the remains of their food for supper. 
They had begun to tire of sweets, but they 
were hungry, — having never worked so hard 
in their lives, — so they made a hearty meal, 
especially Fred, who really stuffed himself, I ’m 
sorry to say. Then piling the rest of the wood 
on the fire, they both lay down on the ground. 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


11 


rejoicing in the freedom of going to bed with- 
out undressing. Fred lay on his father’s coat, 
and Harry on his own extra suit, and both fell 
asleep. 

Fred, however, did not sleep well ; and after 
tumbling and tossing for an hour or two, tor- 
mented with fearful dreams, he awoke in ag- 
ony. The fire was out, and it was pitch dark. 
The horrible phantoms of his dreams seemed 
before his frightened eyes; but worse than 
that, a terrible pain made him double up and 
fairly cry out with anguish. 

Harry was on his feet in an instant. 

What is it ?” he cried. “ What ’s the mat- 
ter, Fred ? ” 

Oh, Harry,” moaned Fred, I ’m awful 
sick, and I ’ve had such horrid dreams ! Oh 
dear ! ” — as the pain came on again — Oh, 
Harry ! can’t you do something for me ? Oh ! 
I wish mother was here ! Oh ! Oh ! I shall die ! 
I know I shall ! ” 

So he went on, groaning, crying, and rolling 
about in his pain. Harry was very much fright- 
ened, but had not the least notion what to do. 


12 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Shall I go and see if I can get some wood 
and make a fire ? ” he asked. 

Oh no ! don’t go away ! ” moaned Fred. 

I ’m afraid to be left here alone. Oh dear ! I 
wish mother was here ! She could do some- 
thing for me ! ” 

I wonder what made you sick/’ said Harry 
in one of the rests between the paroxysms of 
pain. 

Oh, it was the cake and stuff, I suppose,” 
said Fred. Mother said it would make me 
sick, but I did n’t believe it,” he groaned ; and 
off he went again into a worse pain than before. 

Worse and worse he grew for some time, 
till Harry was thoroughly frightened, and at 
his wit’s end to know what to do. 

Harry,” said Fred, when the pain had 
ceased for a moment, can’t stand many 
more such. I think I — I — shall — die. Will 
you go and tell my mother that I was sorry 
I ran away, and — and — give my love to 
Matey.” 

Matey was his baby sister, and his particu- 
lar pet, and at thought of her he fairly burst 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


13 


into tears of grief such as the pain had not 
wrung from him. 

Oh no, Fred/’ said Harry, trying to speak 
cheerfully, though there was a queer choke in 
his voice, for he had never seen any one so 
very ill before, I hope you ’ll be all well to- 
morrow, and you can go and see her yourself, 
if you want to.” 

You may be sure I ’ll do that if I ever 
see daylight, and can crawl out of these hor- 
rid woods,” groaned Fred. 

After what seemed ages to the hoys, day- 
light began to creep into the woods, and at 
last Fred was easier, and fell into a restless 
sleep, and Harry crept out to get some wood 
for a fire. A fire built, the next thing of 
course was — breakfast. There was still quite 
a stock of eatables left, but somehow Harry 
felt a strange disgust at the thought of them, 
and could not drive away haunting thoughts 
of bread and butter, beefsteak, and every-day 
things that he had always despised. So he 
sat down moodily by the fire, uncertain what 
to do. 


14 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Harry/’ said Fred feebly at last, I feel 
better this morning, and I’m hungry as a 
bear.” 

What shall I get you ? ” asked Harry ; 
there ’s some of the fruit cake, and a piece 
of the mince pie we had last night.” 

Oh 1 ” gasped Fred, it makes me sick to 
think of them ! Why did n’t we bring some 
sandwiches ? ” 

Or some cold meat,” added Harry, or 
even potatoes ! a potato roasted in the ashes 
would be delicious. We were fools to think 
we could live on cake and pie.” 

I don’t believe I ’ll ever touch cake 
again,” said Fred. Bah ! it makes me sick 
to speak of it !” 

W ell, let ’s go out and shoot a rabbit, or 
something,” suggested Harry, whose spirits 
began to return with the daylight and Fred’s 
recovery. 

I would,” said Fred, ^^but I don’t believe I 
can stand up ; my legs feel so weak and shaky.” 

Well, I’ll go and bring you something,” 
said Harry. 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 15 

Oh, don’t leave me here ! ” pleaded Fred. 

Can’t you catch a fish or something near 
here, in that brook over there?” 

I can try,” said Harry ; and so it was set- 
tled. Providing a pile of brush for the fire, 
and settling on a signal in case of trouble, 
Harry rigged up a fishing-pole, and started off. 

But something was amiss with the fish, or 
with the fisherman, for not a nibble did he 
get, though he sat there patiently for hours, 
dreading to go back without something for 
Fred. 

At last he grew alarmed at the long silence, 
and went hastily to the cave. The fire was 
out, and Fred lay in an uneasy slumber, his 
cheeks very red, and his hands burning hot. 
He muttered and talked in his sleep, and at 
last Harry spoke to him. He opened his eyes, 
but stared at Harry as though he had never 
seen him before, and in fact, was in a high 
fever and delirium. 

Harry had seen fever, and he was now 
terribly frightened; but what could he do? 
There yas not a person that he knew of 


16 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

nearer than twenty miles, and he dared not 
leave Fred alone to go for help, even had he 
known where to go. 

There was absolutely nothing he could do 
but sit down and wait, and eat some cake and 
pickles for dinner. After a few hours Fred 
came out of his fever, but so pale and weak 
that Harry was more alarmed than ever. 

Again he could eat nothing, and again it 
grew dark. Harry provided a big pile of sticks, 
intending to keep the fire all night, and, feel- 
ing wakeful, he sat there and began to think 
a little. 

I ought to have known better,” he 
thought, ^‘than to bring a weakly boy like 
Fred out here, though I never saw him real 
sick before. His mother took care of him, 
I suppose, and that’s why he couldn’t eat 
things. By the way, I wonder how she feels 
about him now ! What would she say if she 
could see him there, on the damp ground, too 
sick to move? She would blame me — because 
I ’m older. Suppose he should die ! I should 
never dare to go back. I must try to, get him 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


17 


home — but how can I do it?” Always his 
thoughts came back to that: must get 

him home, hut how can I do it ? ” 

Hours went by, and Harry fell into a light 
sleep, but was suddenly awakened by a sound 
— a footstep ! in these silent woods ! 

He started up in an instant. The fire was 
out. The step was heavy and slow on the dead 
leaves of their fallen screen; no doubt the 
step of an animal — perhaps a bear. 

He could not see an inch before him, and 
he dared not move lest the creature should 
hear. He felt around for a weapon, but could 
only get his hands on his uncle’s big gun. 
This he carefully drew up to him, and held it 
ready to strike any animal which should try 
to get in. He had been unable to make it 
shoot, with all his cleaning, but it was heavy, 
and would do very well as a club. He was sure 
he could knock an animal senseless with it. So 
he stood there ready. His arms grew tired, 
and his back ached; still he dared not move. 

Sometimes the step moved off a little, and 
Harry breathed easier, and hoped the creature 


18 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


was going away ; and then, just as he began 
to think he must sit down, it would come back 
again, nearer than before. 

All this time Fred was sleeping, and more 
quietly than during the day. 

hope he ’ll be well in the morning,” Harry 
thought, in one of the pauses when the animal 
seemed to be going away. ^Hf he is, we can go 
on,” was his first feeling ; ^^but what can we do 
if we go on?” was the next. ^^We have seen 
no game ; even if we saw any our gun won’t 
go off, and if it would, we don’t know how to 
shoot ; I can’t catch fish ; there seems to be 
nothing to eat ; it ’s awful lonesome out here ; 
and — and — if a fellow gets sick it’s horrid. 
I believe I ’d as lief go on errands, after all.” 

Now the steps drew near again, and he 
braced himself for the blow. 

Suppose this bear — or whatever it is — 
gets in at us, and kills us — or half kills us ! 
Suppose it should get hold of Fred! Would 
I be a murderer ? — for it ’s my fault that he 
ran away ; he ’d never thought of it if I had n’t 
put him up to it.” So he went on, in that long. 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


19 


anxious night, thinking, and in deadly fear of 
the animal, till it seemed to him that his hair 
must have turned gray. 

At last, when his -arms were so stiff it seemed 
as though they had grown to that position, and 
he was so tired he could hardly stand, a faint 
light began to steal through the trees. He 
strained his eyes to see the monster which had 
frightened him so long. Now he thought he 
saw it at one side, but the growing light showed 
that to be a stump ! then he thought it was at 
the other side, lying full length on the ground, 
but that turned out to be a trunk of a fallen 
tree. For some moments he had not heard the 
step, and he was beginning to think the ani- 
mal must be gone ; but suddenly he heard it 
on the other side, quite plainly, evidently very 
near. 

As quickly as his stiff limbs would move, 
he wheeled, ready for a blow — nothing was 
there ! Then the sounds came again, and look- 
ing down, he saw at his feet — a monstrous 
toad ! 

His gun fell to the ground. This, then, was 


20 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


the creature whose hops among the dry leaves 
had kept him awake all night ! For a moment 
he was furious, and determined to kill that ugly 
toad ; but before his arms were limber enough 
to use, he thought better of it. In after years 
he used to laugh at that night’s terror, but 
now he had been too frightened to laugh. 

Fred awoke at this moment, and seemed 
more like himself ; in fact, the long fast had 
cured him. He sat up and looked around. 
Neither of the boys spoke of what filled their 
hearts. The woods were gloomy in the gray 
morning light. Fred looked slowly all around 
without a word ; at last his glance fell upon 
his friend, sitting silent and forlorn. Their 
eyes met ; the same thought was in both. 

Let ’s go home,” said Fred. 

Well, let’s,” said Harry. 

We were geese to start out this way,” 
said Fred. 

We were idiots ! ” responded Harry. 

Let ’s go now.” 

Agreed.” 

They rose, and as one boy started for home. 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 21 

^^Our things!” suddenly exclaimed Fred, 
after they had gone a few steps. 

Who cares for them 1 ” said Harry sav- 
^-gely, let ’em stay ; I would n’t carry one 
home.” 

No more was said ; grimly they both trudged 
on. After walking an hour or more, Fred 
spoke again. 

Are you sure this is the right way ? ” 

I don’t know; I suppose it is,” said Harry, 
and still they kept on. 

Another hour passed — still no end to the 
woods. 

I ’m sure this is farther than we went the 
day we came in,” began Fred. 

Harry stopped. ^^The truth is, Fred, I 
have n’t a notion which way to go ; I suppose 
if we go straight we ’ll come out somewhere 
after a while.” 

Perhaps so,” said Fred, ^^but it’s hun- 
dreds of miles to the other side, I believe.” 

Well, they were lost ; that was plain. Every 
way they looked was a vast depth of woods. 
Harry climbed a tree, and peered out over 


22 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


the branches, but he could see nothing but 
a sea of tree-tops. He came slowly down. 

^^Did you see anything?’’ asked Fred 
eagerly. 

^^Yes, millions of trees,” said Harry bit- 
terly. Fred, I don’t believe we ’ll ever get 
out of these woods,” and he sat down at the 
foot of the tree. 

Don’t you suppose they ’ll send after us? ” 
asked Fred, with white, scared face. 

^^Yes, I suppose your folks will,” said 
Harry. “I don’t know’s my aunt will, but 
they might hunt a week and not find us.” 

‘^And they won’t know which way we 
went, besides,” said Fred, suddenly. 

Sure enough ! ” assented Harry, aghast at 
this new thought. That peddler might tell, 
but he won’t get back there for months, and 
they would n’t think of him if he did.” 

A silence followed. 

It was three days after this that a party of 
half a dozen men, with Fred’s father at their 
head, who had been searching the woods ever 
since the boys were lost, came suddenly upon 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 23 

the runaways. They lay upon the ground, 
apparently asleep, — Harry on his face, Fred 
with his arms over his eyes. Ragged, worn 
out — half starved — it was hard to know his 
son. But they were evidently suffering, and 
Mr. Hartley stopped before them. 

Boys ! ” he said. 

Harry started up, but stared as though he 
did not know them ; Fred did not move. 

^^Is that you, Harry Barnes?” said Mr. 
Hartley, excitedly. And what — what ails 
Fred?” 

Nothing,” said Harry slowly, as though 
half asleep. ^^He’s there,” and he looked 
towards his friend. 

Mr. Hartley hurried up to the silent boy, 
drew his hands down, and shook him. 

Fred ! Fred ! ” he called, excitedly. 

Slowly Fred’s eyes unclosed, and he recog- 
nized his father. He tried to speak, but his 
mouth seemed parched, and no sound came 
out. 

^^He’s exhausted — nearly starved,” said 
one of the men. 


24 


HAREY’S RUNAWAY 


A little liquid food was poured down his 
throat, while Harry, who was stronger, raven- 
ously devoured a piece of bread, and rapidly 
came to himself. 

What have you had to eat ? ” asked one 
of the men. 

‘‘ Nothing,” said Harry, except a few pine 
seeds — and some leaves.” 

« Why didn’t you come out of the woods ?” 
asked another. 

Got lost,” said Harry, looking eagerly at 
the meat in the provision bag. 

In a few minutes a litter was made of 
branches, and Fred, laid upon it; was carried 
off by two men, while Harry, leaning on two 
more, managed to walk. 

A few hours brought them to the place 
where the party had left a wagon; and after 
one night spent in a farmhouse, and another 
day on the road, they reached home. By this 
time Fred was able to talk a little, but he was 
at once carried to his bed. 

Harry went home very humble, begged 
his aunt’s pardon, and resumed his errand- 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 


25 


running without a murmur. His aunt, Mrs. 
Barnes, was kindhearted and really fond of 
her nephew, but she was always so busy that 
she never had time to say anything about it. 

She did not think of punishing Harry ; in 
fact she concluded when she saw his face that 
he had already suffered enough. But the gen- 
tlemen who boarded with her, on talking it 
over among themselves, made up their minds 
that a lesson or two wouldn’t hurt Master 
Harry. So a little plot was arranged between 
them, and amid much quiet laughing each one 
promised to do his share, and not to let any- 
one — especially Harry — suspect that there 
was a plot. 

Mrs. Barnes ’s sitting-room was the back par- 
lor. Here she spent her resting times, and here 
Harry had his school-books and desk, and us- 
ually passed an hour or two every evening 
in study. 

The first night after the boys had been 
brought home, as the Barnes family were 
quietly seated at their work, Mrs. Barnes knit- 
ting and Harry with his school-books, there 


26 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


came a knock at the door. Harry opened it, 
and there stood Mr. Hill, the oldest boarder, 
— a gentleman about fifty years old and as 
good-natured as he was bald-headed. 

Mrs. Barnes rose, but he said quickly, — 
Don’t get up, Mrs. Barnes ; let me come 
in a minute and tell my business.” 

Certainly,” said Mrs. Barnes, thinking it 
rather odd that he should come at that hour. 

Take a seat, Mr. Hill.” 

Thank you, I will,” answered the gentle- 
man, with a curious twinkle in his eye which 
she did not understand. 

How pleasant your fire is ! ” he added, for 
the night was cool enough to warrant one. 
‘‘ It would n’t be so funny to be out in the 
woods to-night. Eh, Harry ? ” 

Harry pretended not to hear, and buried his 
face in his book as if to master that history 
lesson was the darling wish of his heart. 

Mr. Hill did not notice him, but went on 
to talk about the weather and other things in 
the liveliest manner,^ never giving Mrs. Barnes 
a chance to say anything except yes or no ; 


HOW HARRY RAN AWAY 27 

and in fact she was so astonished at the whole 
performance that she didn’t know what to say. 

At last in the most natural way in the world 
Mr. Hill began talking about boys, and espe- 
cially their fancy for running away. 

Then Harry began to suspect that he was 
talking for his benefit, and resolved that he 
would n ’t hear a word. He bent over his book 
closer than ever, and moved his lips as if com- 
pletely absorbed in his lesson. Mr. Hill smiled 
a little, but went on to say, — 

^^It certainly is strange how every boy 
thinks he ’s going to better himself by going 
out to fight the world alone.” 

I suppose it ’s the notions they get from 
the cheap story books,” said Mrs. Barnes. 

No doubt,” answered Mr. Hill ; but the 
queer thing about it is, that with the good 
sense that most boys have, they can’t see the 
foolishness of it. Now there ’s Mr. Dean, a 
most respectable man, you know ; would you 
suspect that he ever ran away ? ” 

No, I should not,” said Mrs. Barnes ; did 
he?” 


28 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Yes, indeed ! I knew him when he was a 
boy ; in fact we went to school together, and 
I well remember the dismay and horror that 
fell upon us all one morning when the whisper 
went around that Frank Dean and Tommy 
Strong were missing.” 

What ! Mr. Strong who lives in E 

Street ? ” asked Mrs. Barnes. 

The very same, and his ill health — you 
know what an invalid he is — is the result of 
that scrape.” 

You don’t say so ! ” said Mrs. Barnes. 

How did it happen ? ” 

Well, I’ll tell you.” Mr. Hill settled him- 
self in his comfortable chair as if story-tell- 
ing were his regular business, and began. He 
turned his face towards Mrs. Barnes as if he 
had forgotten Harry and his history lesson, 
but over the mantel was a mirror, and in that 
he could see that young man grow more and 
more interested, the book shut up of itself, 
and he sat open-mouthed and staring. This 
was what he wanted, so he went on with his 
story. 


CHAPTEK II 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 

As I said/’ he began, ‘Hhe rumor that Frank 
and Tommy were missing, and that Tommy’s 
mother was nearly crazy about it was the first 
thing we heard about it at school. Before 
school began, Mr. Thomas, the master, with a 
very grave face, told us that neither of the 
hoys had come home the night before, and 
asked if any of us knew anything of the 
strange disappearance, and begged us to tell, 
because Mrs. Strong, being not well, was so 
overcome by it that her friends were seriously 
alarmed about her. But none of the boys 
knew any more than he did, except that we all 
remembered that Frank and Tommy had sud- 
denly struck up a great intimacy not long be- 
fore, and doubtless they had gone off together. 

Frank’s father was not worried in the least, 
— he was sure from the first that the boys had 


30 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


run away, and from what he had seen of that 
sort of thing he thought they would soon get 
enough of it and come back. But Tommy’s 
mother, a widow and very fond of her son, 
could not believe it. ^ Why should Tommy run 
away?’ she constantly asked. ^ He had a happy 
life and was fond of his home. No ! I know 
my boy has not run away from me ! He has 
been kidnapped, and I shall never see him 
again ! ’ and then she would rave and cry till 
her friends were afraid she would be insane. 

Two days passed and no news came. On 
the evening of that day, my cousin Johnny 
Sinclair, whom I have often heard tell the 
story, was coming home alone from his father’s 
store about nine o’clock. The house was a 
little out of the village, and as he passed a 
clump of bushes in a lonely part of the road he 
heard a whisper that at first startled him very 
much. It was, ^Johnny Sinclair, is that you? ’ 
“ ‘ Yes; who are you ?’ he answered. 

^ It ’s me ! ’ said Frank’s voice, greatly re- 
lieved. ^ Come in here ; I want to speak to you.’ 

Johnny ran behind the bushes, but started 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 31 

back on seeing, in the faint starlight, Frank 
with a gun pointed at him. 

‘ Swear that you won’t tell that you have 
seen me, or I ’ll shoot ! ’ said Fred in a tragic 
tone. 

« ^ Why, Frank ! ’ began Johnny. 

“ ^ Swear ! ’ cried Frank still more threat- 
eningly, cocking the gun. 

^^^Well, I won’t tell,’ said Johnny, who 
feared the gun would go off accidentally, ^ only 
turn that gun away.’ 

^ That ’s not enough,’ said Frank in the 
tone of Bloody Bill and others of that ilk ; 
‘ swear that you ’ll do what I command.’ 

‘‘ ^ Now Frank,, that ’s a little too steep ! ’ 
protested Johnny. 

^ Swear ! ’ reiterated Frank in his deepest 
tone, taking careful aim at the third button 
on Johnny’s coat. 

^^^Well, I suppose I must,’ said Johnny, 
^ for I ’m sure you ’ll have that gun off, the 
way you’re holding it.’ 

^ On your sacred word of honor,’ said 
Frank solemnly. 


32 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ On my sacred word of honor/ repeated 
Johnny impatiently. ^ Now turn that shooting- 
iron the other way, I Ve looked down that 
barrel as long as I want to.’ 

Frank dropped the gun to the ground. 

^ Now what is it ? ’ growled Johnny. 
^ Pretty way to treat your friends, is n’t it ? ’ 
Well, you know,’ said Frank, had to 
make you promise, or they ’d make you tell 
and they ’d get on our trail.’ 

^You needn’t worry yourself about that,’ 
said Johnny dryly. ^ Your father says you ’ll 
come home when you get enough, and it will 
do you good.’ 

‘ He does, does he ? ’ said Frank sharply. 
^ Then he has n’t put detectives on our trail?’ 

^^^Not a detect,’ said Johnny laughing, ^and 
his hair has n’t turned gray ; he looks the same 
as ever. I saw him walking down town this 
afternoon.’ 

^ Maybe when years are passed and he has 
no word from his only son,’ began Frank in 
a lofty tone, but Johnny interrupted. 

‘ Nonsense, Frank ! but by the way,’ as 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


33 


a thought struck him, ‘ where *s Tommy ? His 
mother does n’t take it quite so easy/ 

‘^^Ha! she doesn’t? Maybe she’d like to 
have her darling back ! ’ in a sneering tone. 

Indeed she would; and Frank, she is very 
ill, nearly crazy about it.’ 

‘^^Well, she’ll not see him for long years. 
He has cut loose from her apron strings, and 
I mean to make a man of him.’ 

^ Now look here, Frank ! it ’s all very well 
for you to carry out your joke, but you’ve 
no business to drag that boy in, for every- 
body knows he would never have gone of 
himself.’ 

^ Then you call it a joke?’ almost shouted 
Frank. 

^^^Yes, I do,’ said Johnny firmly, seizing 
the gun that Frank was about raising again. 
‘ Now none of that, Frank Dean ! I ’ve pro- 
mised not to tell, and I won’ t ; but I will have 
my say, and I tell you that if you drive Mrs. 
Strong crazy — as they say it may — you’ll 
spend your life regretting it.’ 

^ Leave me to manage my own affairs if 


34 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


you please, Mr. John Sinclair; ’ said Frank with 
great dignity, ^ and I warn you not to inter- 
fere about Tommy, either,’ he added defiantly, 
^ for I won’t stand it ; and so I tell you 
plainly.’ 

^ There ’s no use quarreling,’ said Johnny, 
after a pause during which he made up his 
mind he must work some other way. ^Now 
what do you want of me? And be quick 
about it.’ 

^ I want you to supply us with food.’ 
a 6 Well, that ’s cool, I must say ! ’ 

^^^Only for a day or two,’ Frank hastened 
to say, ^ till we make our arrangements to leave 
this part of the country. We haven’t decided 
yet where to go.’ 

‘‘ ‘ Oh, you have n’t ! ’ said Johnny with an 
inward chuckle. ^Well, I take the contract 
— for a day or two, but where shall I bring 
the grub?’ 

Frank hesitated. ^Can I trust you? won’t 
you go and bring a posse of men to arrest 
me?’ 

‘‘Johnny laughed. ‘ What do I care about 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


35 


arresting you when your father decides it will 
be good for you ? ’ 

“ ^ Sure enough ! and I can keep mammy’s 
darling out of the way. Well/ he added, 
will meet you to-morrow night at the big 
chestnut tree in Smith’s pasture.’ 

‘ What time ? ’ demanded Johnny. 

haven’t any time — but as soon as it’s 
too dark to be seen from the road.’ 

^ If I come then will you take me to your 
hiding-place?’ 

‘ Do you take me for a flat? ’ retorted 
Frank angrily by way of answer. 

^^^Well, then, what’s to make me come? 
said Johnny coolly, still holding the gun so 
that Frank could not lift it. 

^ You promised.’ 

^^^But I did n’t promise to come alone,’ said 
Johnny, ^ and I might bring a friend or two; 
it ’s lonesome out there at night.’ 

Frank saw that he was caught. ^Well,’ 
he said grudgingly, ‘ I suppose I shall have to 
do it — but you ’ll have to swear secrecy.’ 

^ Oh, I ’ll do that ! ’ said Johnny lightly. 


36 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^and now you may take your gun and go;^ 
and he started out. 

^ Wait ! ’ called Frank. ^ Could you get me 
a little something to-night? you see/ he added 
in a shamed tone, ^we took some things with 
us, but a fellow gets awful hungry in the 
woods, and— and — we ate it all up yester- 
day.’ 

^ And did n’t you have anything to-day?’ 
demanded Johnny. 

No, except some wintergreens.’ 

Poor Tommy! ’ murmured Johnny, ^He 
must be half starved 1 ’ 

He’s no hungrier than I am,’ retorted 
Frank fiercely. ^ See here, I don’t see why you 
make so much fuss over him.’ 

^^^I’ll tell you why,’ said Johnny firmly. 
^ It ’s because he did not come of his own free 
will — he was coaxed away by you, and more- 
over he ’s younger than you and not so tough 
— that ’s why 1 ’ and he started down the road. 
^ I ’ll bring you something down to our gate in 
a few minutes,’ and he hurried home. He re- 
membered that the cook was out this evening 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


37 


and he would undoubtedly find the kitchen 
empty. 

It was as he thought, and he hastily took a 
loaf of bread and a piece of cold meat, and 
ran down to the gate, where he gave them into 
the eager hands of his friend. 

Never was a secret harder to keep than 
that one, for the town was still talking over the 
mysterious disappearance, and Johnny found 
it very hard to keep from contradicting the 
absurd stories told. 

^^But he had one thing to think of that 
required thought; namely, how to relieve 
Tommy’s mother’s anxiety, and how to rescue 
Tommy, for that he was determined to do. 
The first he tried to do by an anonymous note 
assuring her that Tommy was well and safe, 
and would soon be home. 

The rescue was harder, but he devised a plan. 
From the place Frank had appointed to meet 
him, he had made up his mind where they 
were hiding. It was a spot known to few be- 
sides himself, for it was on his father’s land, 
but he was sure that Frank had found it out. 


38 


HARRY^S RUNAWAY 


It was a dry knoll in a piece of swampy land 
where there were rocks and capital hiding- 
places, and which there was only one way of 
reaching from that side; no path, but by fol- 
lowing a slight ridge of land one could go dry 
shod to the middle of what seemed to be no- 
thing but swamp. There was another way to 
it which he hoped Frank did not know. On 
the other side of the knoll ran a sluggish httle 
stream, and one bank of this was somewhat 
higher than the other and could be walked 
on. It led, however, to a spot two miles away 
before it struck the road. 

On this he made his plan. The hardest was 
to get some help without revealing the secret, 
but he managed that. 

^^He went to two boys of a class higher 
than his own, boys he knew he could trust, 
and binding them not to tell, he asked their 
help. 

^ What I want you to do,’ he said, > is to 
help me capture a boy who is a sort of pris- 
oner — though he may not admit it — and 
take him home. I am bound not to mention 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 39 

names nor places, and you must n’t ask me to 
explain, for I can’t.’ 

^^^But you don’t expect us to go off on what 
may be some wild-goose chase for all we 
know !’ said one of the boys. Will Jones. 

^ Oh, I know Johnny,’ said the other, Tom 
Wilson, ^and I know he would n’t fool us. I 
suppose it ’s that little wretch Tommy, and 
I ’m willing to help catch him — it ’ll be a 
jolly lark.’ 

^^‘So it will,’ assented Will, ^and I should 
particularly like to spite Frank — he ’s a mean 
sneak.’ 

^ True for you,’ said Tom. ^ Now boy, 
what ’s your plan ? ’ 

^ It is this,’ said Johnny : ^ to-morrow 
night at dusk I want you to be with my 
father’s light wagon — if I can’t get that I ’ll 
get another — at a place on the road to Wal- 
cott’s, about two miles from here. We may 
have to wait there some time, but sooner or 
later I think we shall find our prisoner and 
bring him home. I have a plan to get him 
there. I can’t tell fou any more.’ 


40 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ I see/ said Tom ; ^ we ’ll have a ride any- 
way, and I ’m with you.’ 

^ I too,’ added Will. 

The next thing was to get his provisions, 
which was more difficult since the disappear- 
ance of meat and bread the night before had 
made such a row and put cook on her guard. 

However, he managed it by watching his 
chance when she had gone up to his mother, 
slipping into the store-room, snatching hastily 
whatever he could get his hands on, and care- 
fully dropping them out of the window, which 
was near the ground. Then as soon as he 
could get out of the kitchen he ran around 
and secured his plunder, which he hid in the 
barn, though not before old Grimes, the dog, 
had taken a few mouthfuls of cake. 

On his return to the house he found a great 
uproar. Cook had already discovered the loss, 
and was furious, while Mamma was alarmed, 
and everybody was talking at once. 

When Johnny came in, he slipped quietly 
into a corner and opened a book, which he at 
once became absorbed in. 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


41 


No one noticed him except his father, who 
had been suspicious since the day before, and 
now was watching for him. One glance at the 
boy’s face confirmed his suspicions, but hap- 
pily, Johnny was a thoroughly trustworthy 
boy. His father was sure that he was not 
doing anything he thought wrong, though he 
was equally sure he had taken the food. 

^ I will wait for him to tell me himself,’ 
he decided, after a few moments’ hesitation, 
— H ’m sure he is not in mischief, though I 
think he is in trouble — perhaps those runa- 
ways ! ’ he added as he remembered the exite- 
ment in the village, ^ no doubt he is sworn to 
secrecy,’ and remembering the time when he 
was a boy, which some fathers seem to forget, 
he asked no questions about it. 

The next morning Johnny stopped him as 
he was leaving the house and asked him if he 
could take the horse and buggy that after- 
noon after school. 

‘ For how long, Johnny? ’ asked his father. 

I can’t tell exactly,’ said J ohnny, ^ but 
I hope to be home by eight o’clock.’ 


42 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


His father hesitated. 

‘ I ’m sure you would ii^t object if you 
knew/ Johnny explained, ^but I can’t tell 
you — only Tom and Will are going with 
me.’ 

Well,’ said his father, after a sharp look 
at him, ‘ you may take it.’ 

^ Oh, thank you ! ’ cried Johnny. 

^^The evening before this interview, was 
the one on which he had promised to meet 
Frank at the chestnut tree. So directly after 
supper, when it began to grow dark, he told his 
mother he was going to the house of a friend, 
and carelessly sauntered out of the door. 

^^He did go to his friend’s house, but soon 
after he stole cautiously around the back way 
to the barn feeling very much like a thiei, 
made a package of his eatables, and started 
on a quick walk for the place of meeting. It 
was quite dark when he reached it, and Frank 
saluted him in a rather crusty tone. 

^ W ell, I thought you meant to flunk.’ 

“ ‘ That ’s a pleasant greeting to one who ’s 
turned into a burglar for your benefit,’ said 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 43 

Johnny, turning as if about to back. But 
Frank changed his tone. 

^ Oh, I did n’t mean that ! but a fellow gets 
awfully tired waiting, and besides I ’m hungry 
as a bear.’ 

^ Why, what’s become of that loaf of bread 
and big chunk of meat?’ asked Johnny. 

^ Humph ! that did n’t last long — half 
starved as we were.’ 

‘ Miss your regular grub, eh ? ’ Johnny 
put in quietly. 

‘ Of course — at first,’ said Frank gruffly, 
^but what you brought now?’ 

Never mind what I’ve brought,’ said 
Johnny, ‘ till we get to your den. You know 
you promised, and I ’m bound to have sup- 
per there or nowhere.” 

Frank grumbled a little, hut at last he 
consented. ^ Only I shall blindfold you,’ he 
said, ‘ so you can’t find your way again.’ 

‘ Then you ’ll ’ have to bring me back 
again,’ said Johnny quickly. 

^ Of course,’ said Frank. 

A handkerchief was tied over J ohnny’seyes 


44 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


and Frank took his hand. A long walk they 
took through mud and over rough ground, 
now and then climbing over a log or walking 
the length of a fallen tree-trunk. 

When the handkerchief was taken off 
Johnny found himself on the knoll, which 
he well remembered, and in an ingeniously 
arranged hiding-place in the rocks a small 
fire was burning. A rough pile of leaves 
showed where they slept, and there sat Tommy, 
or what was left of him after his four days’ 
camping out. He looked pale, as could be 
seen even through the dirt on his face. His 
eyes were suspiciously red, though he bustled 
about and pretended to be having a very nice 
time. , 

^Nice place here ! ’ said Johnny cheerfully. 

^ Want some supper. Tommy ? ’ 

Don’t I?’ cried Tommy. ^What you 

Johnny opened his package. There was 
a pie, a large piece of cake with the marks 
of Grim’s teeth, and a piece of cold beef- 
steak. 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 45 

^ Give me the meat ! ’ cried Tommy, but 
Frank had already seized it. 

‘ Here ! no grabbing ! ’ said Johnny. 
‘ Divide, Frank ! ’ 

Frank blustered, but he was too much in 
Johnny’s power to refuse, so Tommy got a 
piece of the meat. 

Why! don’t you like cake?’ asked John- 
ny. thought that would please you best.’ 

‘ Why, you see,’ explained Frank; ^ when 
we came out we brought a lot of such stuff, 
and we both got awful sick of it.’ 

‘ Nothing ever tasted so good as that bread 
last night, ’ said Tommy gratefully. 

^ And how was the meat? ’ asked Johnny, 
with a sudden suspicion. 

^^‘What meat? Oh, this? It’s very good.’ 

Frank turned red and Johnny looked at 
him, but he said no more. ^Having a nice 
time?’ he asked after a while. 

^^^Oh, splendid!’ said Frank. ^We built a 
wigwam, and soon as we get some hooks 
we ’re going to fish.’ 

^ But it must be pretty dull,’ said Johnny. 


46 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ Oh, we shan’t stay here long,’ said Frank 
hastily. 

“ ‘ Where are you going?’ watching Tommy 
closely. 

^^^We don’t know yet,’ answered Frank 
evasively, but Tommy’s face lighted. ^Oh, 
we ’re going everywhere ! We ’re going across 
the ocean and sail in big ships ’n perhaps we ’ll 
go West and shoot Indians — we ’re going to 
have bully times ! ’ 

^ The mean rascal ! ’ thought Johnny. ‘ He ’s 
keeping that boy’s courage up by no end of 
lies. — Don’t you have any wild beasts nights,’ 
he said aloud. 

Tommy turned a scared look to the 
fast darkening woods, but Frank spoke up 
hastily. 

^ Oh, yes, we did have somebody’s cat one 
night, — s’pose she got lost — and an owl or 
two, and of course the frogs, but we don’t 
mind — they ’re rather company.’ 

^^^But I don’t like them,’ said Tommy 
earnestly, ^ ’specially when Frank ’s away. But 
we’re barricaded now at night and nobody 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 47 

can get in/ and he pointed to a pile of stones 
about as big as Frank could lift, which, no 
doubt, they built into a wall at night at the 
entrance to their den. 

^‘^Well, I can’t stay any longer/ said 
Johnny. ^ Tommy,’ suddenly, ^ would you like 
to go home ? ’ 

“ ^ N — 0 ,’ said Tommy hesitatingly, with a 
glance at Frank, ^I’d like to see — ’ and he 
stopped. 

Frank interrupted with a coarse laugh, 
^ He ’d like to see his mammy, of course; you 
know he is n’t weaned yet.’ 

Tommy flushed up, and at once declared 
he would n’t go home for anything. 

Again J ohnny was blindfolded and led out 
of the woo4s, reflecting as he went, see just 
how he keeps Tommy under his thumb. Poor 
fellow, he looked like a tramp.’ 

While Frank was blindfolding him, 
Johnny had managed to slip a note which he 
had brought with him, into Tommy’s hand, 
with a look which made him quickly hide 
it, and not say anything. As soon as they 


48 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


were gone he drew it out of his pocket and 
read : — 

Dear Tommy, — I want to tell you some- 
thing about your mother that I don’t want 
Frank to hear, so if you ’ll do as I tell you I 
will come to-morrow night and meet you. I 
shall appoint to meet Frank to-morrow about 
dusk, and as soon as he is gone, you start off 
the other way. Climb down the steep side of 
the knoll behind your den, and you ’ll find a 
brook. Follow that everywhere it winds till 
you come to a fence, where the brook runs 
across the road, and a little bridge goes over 
it. There you stay till I come — if you are 
there first — and I ’ll tell you my news. I ’ll 
manage to keep Frank awhile so you can 
hurry back, but don’t tell him a word about 
it, of course. 

Johnny. 

The next evening when Frank reached the 
place of meeting he found no Johnny, and 
after waiting awhile very impatiently, he dis- 
covered a bit of paper stuck up on the trunk 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


49 


of a tree with a pin. He took it down and 
read : - — 

Dear Frank, — I have another engage- 
ment for to-night, so I leave your stuff in the 
crotch of this tree. I really think you must 
start on your travels soon, for I can’t steal 
food much longer — the house now is too hot 
to hold me, and they threaten to have a bur- 
glar alarm or engage detectives to watch the 
house ; that would dish your plans, you know. 


While he was reading this with gathering 
anger and alarm. Tommy was running wildly 
through the woods, following the stream. 
When he reached the fence and the road he 
found Johnny sitting there whittling. 

^ What do you want to tell me ? ’ cried 
Tommy with terror in his eyes. ^What about 
my mamma? ’ 

^^^Only,’ said Johnny, drawing him down 
to a seat beside him so close that he could not 
start away from him, ‘ only that she ’s very ill — 
nearly crazy because you ran away from her.’ 


50 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Tommy burst into tears and sobs. 

Don’t you want to go home with me?’ 
asked Johnny. 

^^^Oh, no! I dassentl’ and he glanced back 
into the woods. 

« ^ Why not ? ’ 

^ I ’m — Frank would be so mad — and 
all the boys would laugh at me. No/ he 
added more firmly, ^ I ’ll not go back — but 
I wish you ’d tell my mamma I shall have lots 
of money when I come home, and she ’ll never 
have to work any more. Who ’s that 1 ’ he 
cried suddenly, as a horse appeared around a 
corner of the road. ^ Let me hide 1 ’ And he 
struggled to get away. But Johnny’s grip on 
his arm was like iron. ‘ Don’t be afraid,’ he 
said, ^ it ’s only our horse and some boys you 
know — Tom and Will.’ 

^‘^But they’ll see me!’ pleaded Tommy. 
^ Do let me go ! ’ 

^^^Not if I know it,’ said Johnny firmly. 
^ Here Tom — quick ! ’ 

‘^Tom sprang out of the buggy, and al- 
most before he knew it, Tommy was lifted in, 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


51 


seated between two who held his arms, while 
the horse started off on a trot for home. 

Where are you going to take me? to 
jail ? ’ he cried in terror. 

^^^Is that another lie Frank told you?’ 
asked Johnny. ^We’re going to take you to 
your mother.’ 

Then Tommy calmed down and ceased to 
struggle. When they reached his home, two 
boys took him up to the door and rang the 
bell. In a moment steps drew near, the door 
opened, and the boys shoved him in — so 
that he went sprawling his whole length on 
the floor. Then the boys retired. 

As for Frank, he went back that night and 
found the bird had flown. At first he thought 
something had carried him off and he was 
terribly alarmed. Then in shaking out his bed 
he found the note Johnny had written and he 
understood it all. For a while he was in a great 
rage and made all sorts of wild threats, but 
the long hours of darkness out there in 
the swamp alone — for he could not sleep — 
calmed him. He did some serious thinking 


52 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


that night, now that the glamour of running 
away was over, and it ended in his resolving 
to go home and beg his father to send him 
away to school. He could not quite make up 
his mind to face the scoffs of the boys. 

The next evening he carried out his plan, 
and slipped into the house in the darkness 
and appeared before his father in the library. 

After much talk and many promises, his 
father consented to his plan, and that very 
night they went off on the midnight train, 
and the next day Frank began life in a large 
school, where boys were governed with a rod 
of iron, and kept so much like prisoners that 
there was no chance to run away.’’ 

Harry did not find it very pleasant at school 
the next day. Every boy had something funny 
or very smart to say. They shouted after him 
as he went down the street ; they whispered 
to him when teachers were near ; they wrote 
on slates and held them up for him and every- 
body else to see; and notes to him and about 
him flew about the schoolroom like a snow- 
storm. 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 53 

It would have been worse perhaps if Fred 
had not been so ill, but as it was, Harry had 
to set his teeth and bring up all the grit there 
was in him to endure it. After fighting three 
of the worst of his tormentors, and threaten- 
ing the rest, above all after it was announced 
in school that Fred was in danger of dying, 
the boys let him alone. But even then they 
avoided him and plainly blamed him for Fred’s 
illness. 

^^If Fred should die,” he said to himself, as 
he slowly walked home from school, sup- 
pose they ’d treat me as if I was a murderer. 
Then I should have to run away again, and 
make sure work of it that time,” he added 
gloomily. 

Harry could not get rid of these thoughts, 
even when in the evening he sat down in the 
back parlor as usual and opened his book to 
study. Pictures of Fred tossing on his bed 
came between the pages of his history. Calcu- 
lation of how much money it would take to 
carry him to New York, where he could ship 
as a sailor — if he did turn out to be a mur- 


54 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

derer — disturbed his arithmetic lesson. In 
fact he was so miserable that he was glad to 
be interrupted by a call from another boarder. 

This was Mr. Jennings, a very particular old 
bachelor, who lived in the front room over 
the parlor, and was never quite suited with 
anything. His beefsteak was always too rare 
or too well done, his coffee was cold, his bed 
was never made as he liked it, in fact he was 
the terror of the household, always grumbling 
about one thing or another. Harry hated 
him heartily, and when on Christmas Mr. 
Jennings, like the rest of the boarders, gave 
him a new knife, he flung it out of the 
back window and told Joe Loomis, the boot- 
black, that he might have it if he chose to 
pick it up. 

But on this particular evening Harry’s own 
thoughts were so gloomy that he was glad to 
see even his enemy, as he always considered 
Mr. Jennings — though he was a good deal 
surprised. Mrs. Barnes was out for a moment, 
and Mr. Jennings sat down to wait her return. 

When she came in, a little later, a smile 


THE CAPTURE OF TOMMY 


55 


crossed her lips, but she looked as if it was 
the most common thing in the world to re- 
ceive calls from her boarders in the even- 
ings. 

Mr. Jennings was for a wonder all smiles; 
he talked in a lively way about everything, and 
Harry sat staring in amazement, waiting to 
hear what he had come to complain about. 

He did n’t hear anything of the sort. Appar- 
ently everything in the house was charming 
to Mr. Jennings, who talked and talked, begin- 
ning as usual with the weather, and ending, 
strange to say, with the subject of running 
away. This did not seem strange, for every 
one was talking about Fred. 

Did you ever run away yourself? ” asked 
Mrs. Barnes, while Harry smiled to himself at 
the idea of this prim little fellow doing any- 
thing so wild. 

No, I can’t say I ever did,” said Mr. Jen- 
nings ; ^^the nearest I ever came to it was being 
in the secret of two of my schoolmates who 
thought this was the way to freedom and 
happiness.” 


56 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^^And did they find them?’’ asked Mrs. 
Barnes smiling. 

^^Well, you may judge for yourself; I’ll 
tell you about it if you like.” 

should be glad to hear/’ said Mrs. 
Barnes, while Harry proceeded to work some 
of his examples for the next day’s lesson. 


CHAPTER III 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 

Well, I was about ten years old, and one 
day as I was going home from school I over- 
heard two boys talking. You see, I had to pass 
a thick hedge around Mr. Gaylord’s orchard, 
and from behind this, as I walked slowly by, 
whittling a willow whistle, as I remember per- 
fectly, I heard first, ^Now don’t forget the 
pistol.’ I knew the voice at once — it was 
Alonzo Gaylord, or Lon, as we called him. 
He was a hard sort of boy, and I did n’t care 
especially what he was up to — but the answer 
startled me, for it was the voice of Will 
Bartlett, a puny little fellow whom I never 
suspected of liking Lon Gaylord. 

^^^Lon, I — I — hate to take that,’ he said 
in a hesitating way; ^it seems like stealing.’ 

^Fiddle -de-de ! What stuff!’ cried Lon. 
^ Is n’t it your father’s pistol ? ’ 


58 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


said Will faintly, ‘but — ’ 

“ ‘ And can’t you borrow it? ’ went on Lon. 
‘You can return it all right.’ 

“ ‘ But I know he would n’t like it,’ said Will. 

“ ‘ Do you s’pose he ’ll like your running 
away?’ sneered Lon. 

“ Will was silent and Lon went on : ‘ Come, 
now, don’t be a baby at the last minute ; 
bring the pistol and box of cartridges — and 
be sure to be on hand as we agreed.’ 

“ The boys passed on into the orchard and I 
heard no more. At first I thought I ’d go and 
tell, and I often wished I had, though I don’t 
suppose it would have done any good. Every 
boy has to learn by his own experience, and 
Lon Gaylord was a particularly headstrong 
boy. 

“Besides I didn’t know how I could prevent 
it by telling. Of course the boys would deny it, 
and of course, too, Lon, who was twice as big 
as I, would thrash me. Moreover I thought 
perhaps it was only talk anyway. 

“ That night, however, the boys disappeared, 
and the rest of the story I had from Will, who 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 59 

was a chum of mine afterwards, and partly 
from my uncle, who was out hunting when 
— but I mustn’t get ahead of my story. Will 
told me that night after all were in bed, he 
stole out of the house in his stocking feet, 
and hurried to the place of meeting ; a whisper 
greeted him. 

^ That you. Will ? I thought you ’d never 
come ! ’ 

‘ Why, it is n’t after eleven,’ said Will. 

^ I ’ve been here ever so long. Come on ; 
got the pistol? ’ 

‘^‘Yes.’ 

You better let me take it; I’m the big- 
gest, ’n’ I understand a pistol.’ 

Will silently handed it over, and Lon stuck 
it through a strap he had buckled around his 
waist, which was already decorated with a 
savage-looking knife and an air-pistol. 

^^^How many cartridges you got. Will?’ 

^ Most a box full,’ answered Will. 

Good; now somebody better try to stop 
us ! ’ said Lon braggingly ; ^ I ’d show ’em ! ’ 

After walking about two miles — very long 


60 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


ones too they found them — the boys came to 
the barn where they had planned to spend the 
first night. This barn had, as they well knew, 
— for they had visited the owner^s son a few 
days before, — a side door which had no lock, 
and on the hay inside Lon proposed to sleep. 

Lon got his hand on the latch, raised it 
and pushed ; but the door did not open. ^ It 
sticks,’ he whispered, and gave it a harder 
push. ^Will — it’s locked! That old fool’s 
put a new lock on it ! ’ he said angrily. 

^ Now what shall we do ? ’ said Will, who 
was tired and sleepy. 

‘ Dogonit 1 ’ said Lon, shaking his fist to- 
wards the house, ^ I ’ve a good mind to break 
down his old door 1 ’ 

‘ They ’d hear us,’ suggested Will. 

^ I s’pose we ’ll have to sleep on the ground 
somewhere,’ said Lon. ^ It ’s no matter ; it 
is n’t cold ; we can sleep anywhere.’ 

^^^If we only had a blanket,’ said Will 
ruefully. 

‘ Blanket 1 ’ said Lon with scorn, ^ ’fore I ’d 
be tied to a soft bed 1 We can’t carry spring 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 61 

beds and hair mattresses around with us ! ’ So 
saying he threw himself on the ground in the 
middle of a bed of pansies in bloom (as he 
saw to his dismay in the morning), Will did 
the same, and so tired were they that they 
slept soundly till daylight. 

As the morning broke a dignified old roost- 
er, the monarch of the poultry yard, amazed at 
such a sight on the pansy bed, mounted a fence 
close by, and called in his loudest tones for 
everybody to come and see what he had found. 

^^Unfortunately no one in the house under- 
stood his language, but Lon sprang to his feet. 

^Will ! Will !’ he said, shaking his sleepy 
friend. ^Wake up! we must go on! That 
confounded old rooster ’ll rouse the house,’ 
as another shrill crow startled him. 

^ Shy a stone at him,’ said Will, half awake. 

Lon did so, when the insulted bird flew 
down with such strong language of disapproval 
that the boys expected to see the house door 
open. 

‘ How stiff lam!’ said Will. ^ I can hardly 
walk ! ’ 


62 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ That ’s for sleeping out doors ! ’ said Lon. 
‘ You ’ll soon limber up. I ’m hungry.’ 

^ So ’m I ! ’ said WilL ^ How far is it to 
Cary’s ? ’ 

^^^Oh, twenty miles, I guess/ said Lon 
lightly; ^ we ’ll get there to-night easy enough.’ 

‘Let’s ask for something at a farmhouse/ 
said Will. 

“‘We will soon’s anybody’s up; it’s too 
early yet.’ 

“ Silently they trudged on. ‘ I wonder what 
time it is ! ’ said Lon, drawing out of an in- 
side pocket a small gold watch with a long 
chain. 

“‘Why, Lon!’ exclaimed Will, ‘whose is 
that ? ’ 

“‘Well, it’s mother’s;’ replied Lon rather 
reluctantly. ‘ She don’t wear it much, and of 
course we want to know the time. I ’ll wear it 
now,’ and he put the chain around his neck 
and the watch in his vest pocket. 

“ ‘ But what time is it ? ’ asked Will. 

“ ‘ The old thing ’s stopped 1 ’ said Lon, giv- 
ing it a violent shake. ‘ It says two o ’clock 1 ’ 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


63 


At the first house where they saw people up 
they went in to ask for something to eat. A 
woman came to the door. 

^Please, Miss — ’ began Lon, but she inter- 
rupted. 

^ Go ’way ! No tramps wanted here ! ’ 

^ We ’re not tramps, Madam, we — ’ 

you are not tramps, then you are 
thieves,’ looking sharply at the gold chain. 
‘ Get out, I say, or I ’ll set the dog on you ; ’ 
and she shut the door. 

^ The mean old thing! ’ said Will, tears of 
disappointment and hunger falling on his 
cheeks. 

^ She called us tramps 1 ’ said Lon, angrily. 
^ I ’ve a good mind to shoot her old dog 1 Don’t 
be a baby and cry for your pap ! ’ turning on 
Will. ‘ The next place ’ll be better.’ 

But the next place proved to be worse, for 
the man who came to the door called a dog 
and set him on without ceremony. The boys 
ran for their lives, and the dog after them. 
Outside the gate, Lon turned. ’ll shoot that 
dog,’ he cried in fury, ^if I never do anything 


64 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


else/ and he made a frantic grab at his belt. 
The pistol was gone ! 

^^^Did you take that pistol?’ he demanded, 
turning furiously on Will. 

said Will, with a white face. 
have n’t touched it.’ 

“ ‘ Then it ’s lost ! ’ said Lon, cooling down, 
and forgetting the dog in his dismay. 

Oh! what’ll father say?’ wailed Will. 

^^^We must never go home to see,’ said 
Lon firmly. 

That decision did not give much joy to 
Will, and he felt not particularly jolly as he 
plodded along. 

Now, too, hunger and fatigue began to tell 
on Lon ; it made him cross. 

^ Will Bartlett, I ’m sorry I let you come I 
You ’re a regular cry-baby ! I ’d send you 
home, only you ’d tattle 1 ’ 

^ I don’t tattle, and you know it 1 ’ said Will 
with spirit, ^ but I dare n’t go home now the 
pistol ’s lost.’ 

‘‘ Lon had no reply to this, and they trudged 
on. After a while they came to a cornfield. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


65 


where they crept in and ate raw green corn 
for breakfast. 

A httle farther on they met a tramp, a sav- 
age-looking fellow with a heavy stick in his 
hand. They tried to avoid him by crossing the 
road, but he crossed too and spoke to them. 

“ ‘ Where you going, sonny? ’ 

^ To Mr. Cary’s,’ said Lon, trying to pass on. 

‘ Don’t be in such a hurry, boy ! ’ said the 
man threateningly. ^ Mr. Cary ’ll wait. By the 
way, what time is it ? ’ 

Lon took out the watch and the man’s eyes 
glistened greedily. 

‘ Watch stopped,’ said Lon. 

^Here, let me see! ’ said the man ; ^ maybe 
I can make it go.’ 

Lon drew back. ^ You can’t ; I forgot to 
wind it up.’ 

^ Let me see for myself,’ said the man, 
looking very ugly indeed. 

^^Lon glanced around. No one was in sight; 
no cries could be heard; it would be easy for 
the man to knock them both down, and he 
looked desperate enough to do it. 


66 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^Cornel hand over!’ said the man. Lon 
put it in his hand. He jerked the chain off 
Lon’s neck and slipped the whole thing into 
his pocket with a grin. 

^ Give it back 1 ’ said Lon with a white face. 
^ It ’s my mother’s.’ 

^ And you stole it 1 ’ said the man. ^ Thank 
ye! All the better for me. They can’t touch 
me long ’s their precious baby stole it first ! 
Thank ye, sir,’ with a mock bow. Then his 
manner changed, his face wore a scowl, and 
his voice was hard. ^Now, my young sprigs, 
you better go about your business, and never 
think of meddling with a gentleman like 
me,’ and without another word he strode 
off. 

There was nothing to be said after that, 
and the boys hobbled on in silence, till a 
farmer with an empty wagon gave them a ride. 
About nine o’clock they knocked at the door 
of Mr. Cary’s house. Mrs. Cary opened the 
door. 

« Why, Alonzo Gaylord ! is that you ? ’ 
she exclaimed. 



I ” 


“GIVE IT BACK 


SAID LON 









jiff <4^ 

\ l'^ i?^*u Vt , • ' 

mm-, A 






LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


67 


‘^^Yes’m, we’ve come to see you; this is 
Will Bartlett.’ 

^ Run away, probably,’ thought Mrs. Cary, 
hut she knew Alonzo’s father and she invited 
them in. 

^^At this place the boys stayed a week, 
having such fine times that they almost for- 
got their journey and once more decided that 
running away was good fun. When Mr. Cary, 
who had been away, came home, he found a 
letter awaiting him from Lon’s father with 
a request that if the boys were there they 
should be sent home. 

So the next morning they were taken in a 
wagon to within a mile or two of home, and 
there set down to walk the rest of the way. 

First they proceeded to eat the luncheon 
Mrs. Cary had given them. 

^ Mr. Cary must think we are fools,’ said 
Lon with his mouth full of cake, ^ to go back 
home ! I know a trick worth two of that ! ’ 

^‘^Why, don’t you mean — ’ began Will, 
but the look on Lon’s face stopped him. 

^^^And what about Poppy’s pistol, you 


68 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


baby ?’ he sneered. ‘Want to go home and 
get spanked, eh ? Not much, Mary Ann ! 
None o’ that for me ! I’m going to a bully 
place I know of, where forty Mr. Carys couldn’t 
find us, and I ’m going to build a hut and 
camp out, and have lots of fun.’ 

“ ‘But what can we eat ? ’ asked Will, who 
longed for home and would have gone straight 
there if he had dared. 

“ ‘ Oh, we ’ll find lots to eat, never you fear,’ 
said Lon. ‘It’s woods there; none o’ your 
mean farmers. Come ! let ’s go on ! ’ 

“ A little farther on they turned into the 
woods, and after a long walk they found a 
place where Lon said they ’d stop. It was a 
sort of den among some rocks, a cheerless 
place that a dog would scorn to live in. But 
Lon said it was easier than building a hut, 
and so they bustled about to collect leaves 
and boughs for a bed. 

“ Will meekly suggested hunting for food, 
but Lon said crossly, ‘ Seems to me you ’re 
always wanting to eat, Will Bartlett. Go and 
hunt if you want to ! I don’t know how to get 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


69 


anything since that old pistol went and got 
lost/ 

Well, they went hungry to bed, of course, 
and after an uncomfortable night Will waked 
with so bad a cold that he could not speak 
aloud. Then suddenly Lon remembered that 
he had heard Will was a delicate boy, and he 
grew frightened as he saw how bravely he 
choked back his tears and tried to forget his 
hunger. 

^‘‘Now, Will,’ he said more pleasantly, ^we 
must have a fire and something to eat ; I ’ll 
set some traps and we’ll catch a squirrel or 
something for breakfast and you must stay 
and keep the fire going.’ 

So it was arranged : dry sticks were gath- 
ered and a fire lighted, and Lon went off with 
his string and twigs to set traps. 

Waiting breakfast till you catch your meat 
is hungry work. Lon was gone a long time, 
and after hours had passed he came back with 
a handful of wintergreens, the only thing he 
could find that was eatable. Will devoured 
them eagerly, but they were hardly a mouthful. 


70 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


The slow day dragged by and night came 
again. The fire was kept going, a pile of 
sticks laid ready, and the hungry boys again 
lay down to sleep. In the night Lon waked 
to find it raining, the fire out, the wood wet, 
and themselves getting soaked. He had a dim 
feeling that it wouldn’t be good for Will’s 
cold, but it could n*t be helped, so he went to 
sleep again. Towards morning he was wak- 
ened by a shriek, and sprang up to find Will 
quite wild with a raging fever. 

‘‘Now Lon was thoroughly frightened, and 
began to see what running away really is. Now 
he began to feel that he would even brave 
his father’s anger and the boys’ scoffs, if he 
could get Will home and off his hands, — 
and in the bottom of his heart, if he could 
get a good meal to eat, though he would not 
admit that even in his thoughts. But he was 
completely lost, had not the least notion of 
the way home, and he knew the woods were 
miles wide. 

“ As well as he could, he calmed Will and 
brought water in his cap to cool his fever. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


71 


Then as morning broke and the rain ceased, 
he proposed to go home. Will's dull eyes 
brightened and he tried to get up, but he was 
too dizzy to stand, and then Lon knew he had 
a very sick boy on his hands, and his reflec- 
tions were not pleasant. 

^^This part of the story,” said Mr. Jennings, 
came out when Lon was questioned by his 
father. Will always had very little remem- 
brance of that time. 

Toward the end of the next day both boys 
were lying on the ground motionless and 
nearly starved. Lon was startled by the report 
of a gun not far off. He slowly rose to his 
feet, threw fresh boughs on the fire and tried 
to shout, but the sound died in his parched 
throat. In a few minutes a man came up to 
them. He was a hunter with a game bag over 
his shoulder. Lon eyed the bag greedily, but 
felt too dull and stupid to speak. The hunter 
shook him to rouse him. 

^ Who are you ? What you here for ? ' he 

said. 

u^We ran away,’ said Lon slowly, ^ and we 


72 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


haven’t eaten for days, and he’s sick,’ pointing 
to Will, 'who lay motionless on one side. 

^^^Good Heavens! I believe you’re starv- 
ing ! ’ said the hunter, throwing down his gun 
and jerking a bird out of his bag. Then pull- 
ing the feathers off, skin and all, he stuck the 
bird up on a stick before the fire. 

^Ht was not well warmed through when Lon 
seized it and fairly devoured it. Meanwhile 
another was cooking for Will, and the hunter 
tried to wake him, but he could not rouse him, 
and he was seriously alarmed. 

^Eat that bird too,’ he said to Lon, 
who was much brighter for the food. ‘You 
will need more strength, for we’ll have to 
carry him out. I hope he ’ll not die on our 
hands.’ 

“ The color died out of Lon’s face and left 
it a ghastly gray. 

“ ‘Will he die?’ he asked in a scared whis- 
per. 

“ ‘I fear he will, unless we can get him 
to a doctor and help very soon,’ was the 
reply. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


73 


^ I ’m ready/ said Lon hastily. 

^ Take my gun; I ’ll carry the boy/ said 
the man. 

A dismal procession was that, and more 
than once they had to stop to rest, and more 
than once Lon thought he should sink to the 
earth. At last the open country was reached 
and a log house, where the ghastly face of • 
Will was an appeal that at once overcame the 
people’s hesitation about taking in such strange 
guests. Will was laid on a bed and the hunter 
turned to Lon. 

^Now, boy, what’s his name and where 
does he live ? His friends must be sent for at 
once.’ 

Lon told, and then begged that he might 
be allowed to go for them. 

‘‘ ‘1 shall telegraph,’ was the reply. ^You 
are not fit to go, either.’ 

That night Will’s father and mother came, 
half crazed by grief and anxiety, and Lon was 
surprised to see his father too. 

^^He had not come to take him home, 
however. He had made up his mind that Lon 


74 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


would never study. He drove to a neighboring 
town, bought him some new clothes, and after 
a talk that Lon never forgot as long as he 
lived, he put him in the store of a friend as 
‘ boy ’ to work his way up if he could. The 
owner of the store was a hard man, but I ’ve 
heard that Lon was so thoroughly cured of 
his wildness that he stuck to his work and 
made a respectable man, though never what 
his parents hoped for him. 

‘‘And what became of your friend Will?” 
asked Mrs. Barnes, when Mr. Jennings 
paused. 

“ Will was sick all winter, hardly went out 
of the house, and it was then that I got so 
intimate with him. I used to go to see him, 
for I was as fond of books as he was. I used 
to get books for him out of a little library 
over a harness shop in the village. We liked 
whaling voyages and travels, and stories of 
adventure, — except runaways. Will would 
never read one of them, it brought back his 
own story so vividly.” 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 75 

Just here the clock on the mantel struck ten 
and Mr. Jennings started up. 

I beg your pardon, Mrs. Barnes,’^ he said 
hastily ; I had no idea it was so late. When 
an old man gets talking, time flies, you know.’’ 

Oh, I ’m sure,” interrupted Mrs. Barnes, 
^^I’ve been very much interested in your 
story. Please come in again.” 

Thank you, ” said Mr. Jennings, bowing 
himself out. When I have — ” he hesitated 
and began again, When it’s my turn,” then 
suddenly interrupting himself, perhaps I will. 
Good-night.” 

Mrs. Barnes went out to lock up the house 
and Harry piled up his books and slipped off 
to bed. It ’s mighty queer,” he said to him- 
self as he climbed the long flights of stairs to 
his room in the fourth story, ^Gt’s mighty 
queer how many runaway stories our boarders 
know. I wonder who ’ll come next.” 

I guess I don ’t care to see any callers to- 
night,” said Harry to himself the next morn- 
ing. I’ll go round to A1 Conway’s and get 
him to show me about my examples. If any 


76 


HARRY^S RUNAWAY 


other boarder wants to entertain Aunt, I ’m 
sure I hope he will.” 

That evening, feeling very smart and know- 
ing, Harry did as he had planned and spent 
the evening with his friend, though I must say 
the arithmetic didn’t occupy much of their 
time. 

Soon after ten o ’clock, he entered the sit- 
ting-room. His aunt sat there knitting. 

Anybody been here to-night?” he asked 
facetiously as he opened the door. 

Yes,” said his aunt, Mrs. Williams stopped 
soon after you went and was very sorry not 
to see you. She wanted you to drive her 
over to her son’s and bring the buggy back.” 

Why did n ’t she come to Conway’s after 
me ? ” asked Harry, much vexed to lose his 
ride. 

^^Oh, I told her you had lessons to get,” said 
Mrs. Barnes, ^^and of course she couldn’t 
think of taking your time from them. She 
got Albert to drive her.” 

Harry went sulkily up to bed, feeling not 
half so smart as he did in the morning. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


77 


Whether any of the boarders had called 
while he was away he did not know, of course, 
but hardly had he settled to his studies the 
next evening when his particular friend, Mr. 
King, made his appearance. 

Mr. King was a tall, sober-looking person 
who roomed on the same floor with Harry and 
to whom he had in times past complained of 
his hard lot. At Christmas Mr. King was one 
of the very few who gave him something else 
than a pocket-knife. He was glad to see Mr. 
King, and fairly put away his books to talk 
with him. 

For some time the talk did not come near 
the subject Harry dreaded, and in fact he for- 
got all about it, but, as the whole town was 
talking about Fred’s illness, it came to pass 
that he was spoken of, and Mr. King asked 
Mrs. Barnes for the latest news of him. He 
was a little worse that evening, Mrs. Barnes 
said. 

And by the way, Harry,” she added, do 
you know how his father got on your track 
the other day ? ” 


78 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


No,” said Harry, shortly. And I don’t 
care,” he longed to add, but was ashamed to do 
so before Mr. King, who looked so interested. 

Well, a common tramp told him, making 
him pay, of course.” 

How did the tramp get his information, I 
should like to know?” asked Mr. King. 

It seems,” went on Mrs. Barnes, that the 
boys rode to near the woods with a peddler. 
Did n’t you, Harry? ” 

Harry mumbled something like Yes.” 

“ Well, he suspected what they were up to, 
— I suppose from their baggage.” 

Here Harry turned very red, for nothing 
had been so mortifying to him as the boys’ 
taunts on the things they had carried with 
them, — ^^As though,” he muttered to him- 
self, we were rich and could buy a proper 
outfit.” 

A very queer look, almost a laugh, came 
into Mrs. Barnes’s face, as she mentioned 
baggage, and even Mr. King had to pass his 
hand over his mustache to hide a twitching 
of his bps. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


79 


Well,” Mrs. Barnes went on, he judged 
from Fred’s dress that he belonged to a well- 
to-do family, and soon after they parted 
company he met a tramp. The fellow told a 
pitiful story, and the peddler gave him the 
information about the boys, and advised him 
to find out in the village if any boys were lost 
and sell his news for cash.” 

^^And was he smart enough to do it?” 
asked Mr. King. 

Indeed he was ! he laid around a day or 
two, made inquiries, and at last found out 
Fred’s father, and then went to him and 
hinted what he knew. Mr. Hartley would n’t 
listen to him, did not believe him, thought it 
a scheme to get money out of him ; and the 
fellow hung around till he had gone, and then 
went to the servants and sent up word to 
Mrs. Hartley of what he knew. Of course in 
her distress she caught at a straw. She came 
downstairs, and he told such a straight story 
that she believed him and gave him five 
dollars. 

Lucky for Master Fred,” said Mr. King ; 


80 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


without that clue they never would have 
looked in the woods, for everybody thought 
they had started West like most other boys.’’ 

^^See here, Mr. King,” Harry cried excit- 
edly, we were idiots, I know, and we cer- 
tainly made big enough fools of ourselves, 
but we were n’t quite such blockheads as to 
start after Indians.” 

I ’m glad of it, my boy,” said Mr. King. 
“ I give you credit for more sense than that, 
but so many boys have done so that you can’t 
wonder it was the first thing people thought 
of. You see,” he went on kindly, ^^it ’s a proof 
of — something, we ’ll not call it by the hard 
name you gave it — but it is certainly a proof 
of something lacking in the intelligence of a 
boy of say fourteen years that he wiU desert 
an even tolerable home and expect to make 
his own way without money and without 
friends, especially if he goes where there are 
no people to work for, and not even the 
common necessaries of life to be had at all.” 

Oh, I know it ! ” cried Harry impatiently. 
I know everything now ! ” he added bitterly. 


LON GAYLORD’S RUNAWAY 


81 


Every man and every boy in town’s helping 
to educate me.” 

^^You should be thankful,” interrupted his 
aunt quietly, that you are left alive to profit 
by your education.” 

^^And not resent it that it comes somewhat 
hard, my boy,” added Mr. King kindly. “ I 
know how you feel though, but believe me, if 
you have not Fred’s death to regret all your 
life, you ’ll yet be glad that you have learned 
the lesson, however hard it comes. A boy I 
knew in the W est — the son of an old friend 
of mine — did not get off so easily, and I ’ve 
often thought of the life before him with one 
dreadful grief hanging over him always.” 

^^What happened to him?” asked Mrs. 
Barnes with interest. 

The story is a strange one,” said Mr. King, 
looking soberly into the fire, the strangest 
I ever heard, but I assure you it is strictly 
true in every particular. The boy was about 
fourteen and a devourer of flashy stories, so 
that though he was a good scholar, and a boy 
of unusual good sense generally, he got his 


82 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


head so full of that stuiBE that he actually 
thought it would be manly to join a band of 
tramps.” 

Tramps ! ” echoed Mrs. Barnes. 

^^Even so,” went on Mr. King. never 
knew — I don’t think he ever told how he 
first got in with them.” 


CHAPTEE IV 

NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS ’ 

^The first I knew of Ned Burton’s runaway 
he tried to coax a friend to join a band he had 
got acquainted with. He took him one side 
after school, and, having made him swear 
never to reveal the secret, told him that he had 
got the finest chance in the world, and was 
going to strike out for himself, and he wanted 
him to come too. 

^^‘Tell me about them,’ said Stan, ‘if 
you ’re going to. 

“ ‘ W ell, no matter how I got acquainted with 
these fellows. I know ’em, and they ’re real 
true blue and no mistake, I tell you ! They’re 
the jolliest crowd you ever saw ! such larks ! such 
fun ! No stupid books for them ! not much ! 
they ’ve cut their eye-teeth, you bet ! ’ 

“‘But who are they ? ’ interrupted Stan, 
‘ and where are they ? ’ 


84 


HAERY’S RUNAWAY 


to where/ said Ned, looking very- 
wise, ^ that ’s their secret, which of course I 
can’t tell. I ’ll only say I can reach ’em easy.’ 

‘‘ ^ Well, who are they, then ? I hate riddles, 
Ned,’ said Stan. 

^ Their names,’ began Ned, looking curi- 
ously to see how Stan would like them, ^ are 
Jerry-the- Masher — ’ 

‘ What ! ’ interrupted Stan in amazement. 

Jerry-the-Masher, ’ repeated Ned, ^Bloody 
Bart, and Tony-give-the-Koad-a-Whack.’ 

^^^Ned Burton, you’re a cheat! You got 
those names out of a story 1 ’ went on Stan, 
angrily. 

‘ Honestly I did n’ 1 1 ’Pon my word 1 ’ Ned 
exclaimed earnestly. ‘ They ’re real names ! of 
course not names their folks gave ’ em, but 
names they took for themselves when they went 
out in the world, and I ’ve been trying to think 
of a good one for myself,’ he went on. 

^ Then they must be housebreakers, ’ said 
Stan, ^ or else tramps.’ 

‘ That ’s about the size of it,’ said Ned, 
thrusting his hands in his pockets and standing 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 85 

in front of Stan with a swaggering manner. 
^ Now what you got to say about it ? ’ 

Stanley was for a moment too much sur- 
prised to say anything, and Ned went on rap- 
idly, ^ They ’re called tramps hy their enemies, 
but they call themselves Gentlemen of the 
Road. And I don’t see as they are so much 
worse than other people, either,’ he went on 
excitedly. ^To be sure they don’t work, but 
the world owes them a living anyway, and 
neither does Mr. Jones work, and he’s re- 
spectable enough.’ 

‘ Mr. Jones does n’t work,’ said Stan, ^ be- 
cause his father worked hard and earned 
money enough for his son. He is n’t a thief 
and a scamp.’ 

‘ Shut up now ! ’ interrupted Ned angrily. 
^ Who is a thief and a scamp ? tell me that ! ’ 
and he struck an attitude as though he dared 
all the world to come on. 

^ Well, Ned,’ said Stanley, now thoroughly 
disgusted, ^if you choose to join a pack of 
tramps you may ; I don’t,’ and he turned to 
go. 


86 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ But see here, Stan ! ’ said Ned hastily. 
^Wait a minute! I felt so too at first, but 
they explained things to me, and now it seems 
different.’ 

^ Yes, I dare say ! ’ said Stan. ^ Fact is, Ned, 
you Ve read so many dime novels you ain’t 
exactly sure what is right and what is wrong.’ 

^^^It’s right for me to do as I’ve a mind 
to!’ said Ned in a towering passion. ^ And you 
may be pretty smart, Stan Rogers, but you 
ain’t the man I took you for! You haven’t a 
spark of spirit ! ’ 

‘ I ’m not a man at all,’ said Stan coolly, 
^ and don’t expect to be till I ’m more than 
fifteen years old. And as for spirit ! I can’t 
see the wonderful spirit in running away for 
the pleasure of tramping the country and beg- 
ging or stealing your grub.’ 

^^^Well, Miss Rogers,’ said Ned with a 
sneer, ^ go home to your Mammy ! Go to 
school like a good little boy, — so you shall ! ’ 

^ Thank you,’ said Stan with mock polite- 
ness. ^ I certainly shall do so, and if you ’ll 
take my advice, you will, too.’ 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 87 

out with your advice!’ cried Ned. 
^ When I want it, I’ll ask for it. But mind,’ 
he added threateningly, ^ mind you don’t tell 
what I ’ve said to you 1 If you do, so much the 
worse for you, and so I warn you I ’ 

^ I told you I would n’t tell,’ said Stanley 
quietly, ^ so you may save yourself that blus- 
ter. Besides, it’s not my business, anyway.’ 

glad you’ve sense enough to see 
that,’ said Ned crossly, as Stanley started for 
home. 

^ It can’t be possible that he ’ll he such a 
fool as to join those tramps,’ said Stan to 
himself, as he walked down the street. 

But he was wrong in his opinion, as he 
found out a day or two later, when Ned dis- 
appeared from his home and the town. There 
was much talk over it and some whispers 
about what he had taken with him. But his 
father and the family would not say anything 
about it, and nothing was known for certain. 

The facts were, as Ned confessed after- 
wards, after his talk with Stanley, Ned made 
another visit to his new friends and they dis- 


88 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


cussed among themselves the question of al- 
lowing Ned to join them. Jerry-the-Masher 
was in favor of taking him, but the two others 
opposed it, partly because of his youth and 
partly because he had not much property to 
put into the common stock. 

^^Ned was so crazy to join them that it 
never occurred to him to wonder why money 
was needed to join a party of fellows who 
begged or ‘ took ’ everything they wanted 
to eat or wear, who paid no board, but slept in 
barns or caves, and who in fact ^ lived on the 
world, as they said, or, to put it more truly, 
who preyed on those more honest and indus- 
trious than themselves. 

After much talk they agreed to take him 
in, if he brought enough with him, and Ned 
went home in high glee, balancing in his mind 
the comparative merits of two names, one of 
which he proposed to adopt for himself. Ned- 
the-Bully-Boy was one that struck his fancy, 
and the other, which sounded to him almost as 
fine, was Bed-Hand-Ned. 

‘^This important matter was not fully 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 89 

decided when the hour came for him to leave 
home. Without a thought of the crimes he 
was committing, he helped himself to his mo- 
ther’s gold watch and chain and a costly pair 
of silver-mounted pistols of his father’s. Be- 
sides that he made a visit to the silver closet 
and stuffed his pockets full of spoons and 
forks; and then softly slipped out of the side 
door, a thief as well as a runaway. 

When he reached the cave in the ravine 
he found his new friends lying around the fire 
as usual. They demanded to see what he had 
brought. Ned emptied his pockets of the sil- 
ver, which Bloody-Bart at once stowed away in 
a dirty bundle he carried. 

Ned looked rather surprised, but did not 
say anything. He next opened the pistol case ; 
the eyes of the tramps glistened. Ned stuck 
one pistol in a belt he had buckled around him, 
and handed the case with the other to Jerry- 
the-Masher. 

^^That individual accepted the gift with 
a grin, but Tony spoke up fiercely. ^ Here, 
young one ! You think you ’re going to wear 


90 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


that ! Hand over ! I ’ll take that shooting- 
iron ! ’ 

‘^Ned did not enjoy this, but he was in their 
power and he wanted to go with them. He 
hesitated — then handed it over. 

‘ That ’s the ticket, Sonny ! ’ said Tony. 
^ Now how much tin you got ? ’ 

^ Seventy-nine dollars,’ said Ned, not offer- 
ing to take it out of his pocket. 

^^‘Take it out o’ the old lady’s purse?’ 
suggested Jerry-the-Masher. 

" ‘ No,’ said Ned with a flush of indigna- 

tion, ^ I drew it out of the bank ; it is my own.’ 

‘ Glad to hear it,’ said Bloody-Bart. ^ These 
spoons and things are yours too, I ’spose.’ 

Ned’s face fell. He suddenly felt that he 
was a thief. 

‘ Let ’s see the cash,’ said Tony, — ^ we 
can’t take your word for it, you know.’ 

Reluctantly Ned took the package out of 
his breast pocket and began to count it be- 
fore them, but Tony reached over and quietly 
snatched it away. ^ It belongs to the company 
now,’ said he, ‘ and I ’m treasurer ; ’ and after 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 91 

carefully counting it he thrust it into his own 
pocket. 

Ned wa's furious, but what could he do ? 
He had stolen for them, and moreover he still 
wanted to go with them. He swallowed his 
wrath, resolving hastily that he would not 
show his mother’s watch, but would keep that 
to wear himself. But Tony seemed to read 
his thoughts, for he said coolly, — 

“ ^ Oh, by the way, where ’s that watch you 
spoke of ? ’ 

^ I — I — ’ stammered Ned. 

^ Don’t say you did n’t bring it ! ’ said 
Bloody-Bart, gruffly. ^’Cause if you do, we 
shall be under the painful necessity of sending 
you back after it.’ 

‘ I have it,’ said Ned, shortly. 

^ Seein’ is believin’,’ said Bloody-Bart. Ned 
produced it, and the above-named person 
quietly but firmly took it out of his hand and 
put it in his own pocket with the gold chain 
displayed outside his wretched garments. 

Somewhat subdued, and realizing now 
that he was truly one of them, Ned lay down 


92 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


with the others to sleep. He was a sound sleeper 
and did not wake till quite late the next morn- 
ing. At first he was surprised to find himself 
out doors, but then he remembered with a 
rush of joy that he was out in the world for 
himself, and he sat up to look at his com- 
panions. 

But where were they ? He sprang to his 
feet. Not a man was in sight, nor an item of 
their belongings ! The fire was out and the 
brands were scattered. The whole party had 
vanished as completely as if the earth had 
swallowed them. 

^ They Ve forgotten me ! ’ was his first 
thought ; ^ Or they are playing a trick on me,’ 
was the next. 

This hope, however, proved false, for 
pinned to his coat he found a note. It was 
from his chief tempter, Jerry-the-Masher, and 
it was short and to the point. It read : — 

^ You ’re a fool an’ we hain’t no use for 
sech, you better go back to skule we ’re much 
obleeged for the things an’ regrettin’ your 
pleasant society which we deprives ourselves.’ 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 93 

Here was a blow ! It was some minutes 
before he could comprehend it and understand 
that they had only wanted the things he had 
brought, and, having secured them, had run 
away from him. 

Kage seized him ; he shouted aloud that 
they were thieves, till he suddenly remembered 
that he was one himself. Then he shrieked out 
that they were mean sneaks, till he thought 
how he had repaid his parents’ kindness. 

After a while his passion wore itself out, 
and he sat there pale and desperate. His illu- 
sions as to tramps were destroyed, to be sure. 
But what could he do ? He dared not face his 
father, it would not be safe to show himself 
in town — he must run away ; but where ? 
and how ? 

His thoughts turned to Mexico. The 
tramps had talked of going there, telling 
of the wonderful chances to make fortunes 
without work, in that land of silver, and to 
Mexico he resolved to go. He had no money, 
to be sure, but he had not been in the com- 
pany of tramps so many days without learning 


94 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


how to travel without money. He would steal 
rides on the railroad as far as he could and 
tramp the rest of the way. 

^^Only one thing; he must have some one 
with him. There was no fun in being alone. He 
determined to steal up to the village at night 
and try to see some of the boys. There was 
Bobby Slocum, he was sure he would go if 
he could see him, for they had often planned 
to run away together. 

It was Bobby’s misfortune to be sent out 
that evening, and to came upon Ned skulking 
around the corner of a fence. 

‘‘ A lively talk, a gay picture of the life 
they would lead, the fun of a trip to Mexico 
and doing as they pleased, did not quite per- 
suade Bobby, so Ned took another tack and 
made out a pitiful story of how he had been 
robbed and deserted, without mentioning the 
fact that he had stolen and told falsehoods 
himself. 

This finished Bobby ; partly from love of 
adventure, but far more out of pity for Ned, 
he consented to join him. 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 96 


an hour or two/ said Ned joyfully, 
almost forgetting his unpleasant experience 
of the night before, ^a train goes through to 

B . We can hide behind that woodpile at 

the station, and when the train stops we ’ll get 
on and ride ever so far before morning.’ 

The place Ned chose to hide in was 
under the cars, on the trucks, among the 
wheels. What put that terrible place into his 
head is a mystery, but there he resolved to 
ride, and into one such place he crept himself, 
while into another, before him on the train, 
crept little Bobby. 

When the train started, Ned at first thought 
he should he shaken off, then he was deafened 
by the noise, and soon he was gasping, choking 
with dust. 

Such an hour as he passed in that fearful 
place ! jolted, choked, and smothered, in con- 
stant danger of a fall, and instant death in a 
horrible form directly before him ! He did 
some rapid thinking in that terrible sixty 
minutes. He saw things from a different point 
of view ; he thought of the advantages he had 


96 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


recklessly thrown away ; he began to see the 
beauty of an honest life ; to realize the dis- 
comfort of being an outcast. 

^^But the night was not yet past. Soon 
after they started he thought he heard Bobby 
call him, but there was so much noise he could 
not tell ; once again he heard a cry, and an- 
swered as loud as he could. Just as the train 
began to slow up preparatory to stopping at 
a station where Ned was resolved to get off 
quicker than he had got on, he suddenly heard 
a fearful shriek, and horrible to say it sounded 
right under him ! He dared not put his 
thought in words, but he knew that Bobby 
had fallen off. 

The train came to a stop, and out from 
under a car crawled a wretched boy — Ned 
Burton, or what was left of him — without 
a hat, white with dust, a face of ashy gray 
color. 

^ Who are you ? ’ gruffly demanded the 
conductor. 

His lips opened and he tried to speak, but 
not a sound came from them. 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 97 

‘ Here, give him some water, somebody ! ’ 
said the conductor. ^He’s stolen a ride and 
I guess got the worst of it.’ 

Water was poured down his throat, and 
then he managed to gasp out that a boy 
had fallen off just below, and in answer 
to a question, to tell where they had come 
from. A passenger heard and turned sharply. 
‘ What ’s your name ? ’ he demanded. 

“ ^Edward Burton,” he answered. 

‘ I know your father ! Here, I ’ll take 
charge of you. I heard some inquiry about 
you yesterday in your home.’ 

^^Now the men who had gone back on 
the track returned bearing between them — 
I spare you the details,” Mr. King inter- 
rupted himself. ^^The boy died in a few 
minutes.” 

Ned, more dead than alive himself, cow- 
ered in the corner with his face covered, 
and waited for his father to come, in an- 
swer to a telegram. When Mr. Burton ar- 
rived on a morning train he scarcely knew 
his son. 


98 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


What’s all this?’ he demanded, sternly. 
' How ’s the hurt boy ? ’ 

^ Dead ! ’ answered Ned, stolidly. 

^ Who was it?’ was the next question. 

Bobby Slocum,’ came painfully from 
Ned’s white lips. 

^ Son of the widow on High Street ? ’ 
^^^Yes.’ 

My God ! it ’ll kill her ! he was her idol. 
As for you, sir,’ he began, but the crushed, 
humbled look of his son softened him, ^ as for 
you, — we shall see.’ 

^ You can do with me as you please,’ said 
Ned quietly. ^ I ’m a thief and — and a mur- 
derer,’ he added, with a shudder. ‘ I ’m ready 
to go to jail or anywhere.’ 

I will pass over the terrible scene at Mrs. 
Slocum’s, where Ned’s father insisted on his 
going with him to tell her all the particulars, 
but it made a tremendous stir in the town, 
and if Ned had n’t been so broken down he 
might have been mobbed. As it was, it took 
all the nonsense out of him ; it was as if he had 
grown twenty years older in that one night.” 


NED’S ADVENTURE WITH TRAMPS 99 


Now look here, Aunt,’’ said Harry, almost 
fiercely, when Mr. King had gone, which he 
did soon after ending the story, — I can’t 
stand any more such stories. I ’m not a fool — 
though you may think I am and I can see as 
well as anybody how senseless our perform- 
ance was, hut I don’t want it hammered into 
me forever.” 

W ell, dear,” said his aunt, gently, I did 
not know anything about these stories, and I 
think you have had enough myself, and I’ll 
speak to them about it.” 

W ell, she spoke to the boarders at the table 
the next morning when Harry was not there, 
and told them she thought they had sufficiently 
impressed the boy. They smiled and said. 
Very well, Mrs. Barnes,” and no more vis- 
itors came to her room. 

But the idea seemed to have spread in some 
mysterious way and the whole town seemed to 
have broken out into story-telling. 

Harry could not go anywhere without hear- 
ing some tragic story about the doings of boys, 
till he was almost driven to run away again 


100 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


to avoid them. One day while he was in the 
grocery waiting for the clerk to draw some 
molasses for him, one of the group of men 
who hang around such places began, with a 
sly wink to his comrades, As I was saying, A1 
Collins was the greatest joker I ever knew. 
Just for fun was the thing he lived for. He 
never went anywhere that he didn’t make 
trouble with his pranks. It was when he came 
on a visit to a cousin of his in the town where 
I lived that I met him.” 


CHAPTER V 
THE TABLES TURNED 

Collins is coming to-morrow/ said 
Robert Carter at the breakfast table. 

^ I ’m sorry to bear it/ said Mr. Carter. ^ I 
think he’s a nuisance in any place; always in 
mischief.’ 

^ Albert is pretty hard to get along with, 
though he is my own sister’s son,’ sighed Mrs. 
Carter. ^ I suppose the house will be turned up- 
side down for the next week.’ 

^ I ’m glad of it,’ spoke up Susy. ^ This 
poky old town is lively for once when A1 ’s 
here.’ 

not glad/ said Johnny. ^He’s 
always a-plaguing me.* 

^ He does n’t seem to get a very warm 
welcome,’ said Robert; ^but I don’t know as 
I ’m surprised,’ he added, laughing as he 
remembered the pranks his cousin played the 


102 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

last time he was in A . don’t suppose 

there’s a soul in A outside of this house 

who pines for his society, and I don’t see that 
many do who are inside/ he went on. ^ How- 
ever, there’s one thing, — he doesn’t care a 
continental what people think of him, so he 
has his fun.’ 

^^^Yes, ’ said his father gravely, ‘he is a 
selfish, mischievous boy. See that you don ’t 
get into any such scrapes as you did last year, 
my son. I warn you to look out that no bills 
come to me this year, for I shall take them out 
of your allowance.’ 

“ ‘ Rob,’ said Albert the next day, as they 
drove up from the station in the dog-cart, 
‘ how are the na-ty ves ? ’specially my old friend 
Abraham the Redhead ? How mad he did get 
that night at Blair’s,’ and Albert laughed loud 
and long. 

“ ‘ You did play it rather rough on him,’ put 
in Rob, ‘ before all the girls, too.’ 

“ ‘ Never mind ! he need n't have a red head, 
then ! ’ said Albert. ‘ And I haven’t got even 
with him yet by a long shot. Rob,’ — after a 


THE TABLES TURNED 


103 


pause, — ^ I Ve brought down some stunning 
clothes. I ’ve got a new tailor.^ 

^ You had a good enough tailor before/ 
said Rob, looking with envy upon the spruce 
city fit of Albert ’s clothes. ‘ I should like 
to live in a city.’ 

^ I should think you would. I don’t see 
how such a wide-awake fellow as you are can 
stand it in this slow hole,’ said Al. ^It’s 
great fun for a few days just to make the 
bumpkins hop around and put a notion or 
two into their sleepy heads; but to live — 
faugh ! I should stagnate.’ 

^^He evidently did not mean to stagnate 
this time, for it seemed as if he thought of 
more pranks than ever before. Rob and Susy 
were hand in hand with him in everything 
he did, and the one whom they most delighted 
to see discomfited, and upon whom most of his 
tricks were played, was the unfortunate Abra- 
ham Wilson, or Ra, as he was usually called. 

The first cause of Al ’s animosity towards 
him was his refusal to join in their rough 
jokes and amusements, and another thing 


104 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


against him was that he was a great admirer 
of Susy Carter. As soon as A1 appeared in 
the village and began to laugh at his auburn 
hair, calling him Abraham the Redhead, and 
making fun of him generally, Susy would join 
in the laugh and treat Ra with a coolness 
which of itself was disagreeable, and made him 
dislike Albert as the cause. 

A few nights before Albert was to go 
home Susy invited some company to meet him, 
— all the girls and most of the young men of 

B , including of course, Ra Wilson. For 

this occasion A1 was burning to distinguish 
himself by some funnier thing than he had 
yet done, and all day he racked his brains to 
plan something more audacious than ever. 

At noon he had not been able to settle on 
anything, but the one o ’clock train brought 
— on a short visit to Mr. Carter’s — two old 
friends, military gentlemen, who were great 
hunters and had come to get a little shoot- 
ing. No sooner had they eaten a hasty lunch- 
eon than they put on hunting suits, and taking 
dogs and guns, started out for game. 


THE TABLES TURNED 105 

^ Shall you be back this evening ? ’ asked 
Susy as they were leaving, for they were old 
friends and she greatly admired a uniform. 
^ I ’m going to have some company to-night, 
and I should like to introduce you.’ 

^^^We may get back by ten o’clock,’ was 
the answer. ‘It ’s a long stretch to the ground,’ 
and then turning to his servant, who traveled 
with him : ‘John, you may have our dress suits 
brushed and laid out, so we can dress as quickly 
as possible.’ 

“ ‘ Yes, sir,’ answered John. 

“ A sudden thought struck Albert ; a light 
flashed over his face. ‘ I have it ! ’ he whis- 
pered eagerly to Susy. ‘ I ’ll show you the 
greatest fun you ever thought of! Oh, it’s 
too good I such a joke! where’s Rob? we 
must make our plans.’ 

“ ‘ What is it ? ’ asked Susy. 

“ ‘ Don’t ask me to tell you,’ said Albert. 
‘ It ’ll take away half its fun, but I ’ll say this 
much : you said you did n’t believe Abraham 
the Redhead would come to night. Now I ’ve 
thought of a capital way to make him come, 


106 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


and Rob and I will do it and give you the 
richest sight of the season. It’s the grandest 
plan ! ’ and he rushed out after his friend. 

‘‘ Rob entered heartily into the plan, and at 
seven o ’clock that evening they disappeared 
upstairs, telHng Susy not to look for them till 
about nine, when they would come in the 
front door like the other guests, and bring Ra 
with them. 

‘‘ ‘ And look here,’ said Rob \ ^ Sue, when 
you hear a heavy tread on the steps, you run 
and open the door, so we can enter with edat 
and not have to ring the door-bell. Oh, it ’ll 
be too rich ! ’ 

‘ Now to get rid of John,’ said Al, as they 
mounted the stairs. 

John’s all right,’ said Rob. ‘I gave 
Hobbs a dollar to keep him downstairs an 
hour, and he ’ll do it, sure.’ 

‘ Yes, but we must get him down.’ 

So they entered the guest chamber where 
the two military gentlemen were quartered. 
John was putting the last finishing touches to 
the uniform which lay spread out in dazzling 


THE TABLES TURNED 


107 


array, ready for instant wear. It was of the 
most elegant material and richly ornamented, 
and the breast was covered with gold orders. 

^ John,’ said Rob, ‘ if you’re through with 
your work you better go down stairs to Hobbs, 
he ’ll give you a glass of something hot after 
your exertion.’ 

‘ Thank you, sir ; much obliged, sir,’ said 
John, as the boys closed the door and crossed 
the hall to their own room. They shut the 
door, but A1 instantly applied an eye to the 
keyhole, and in a moment he saw John leave 
the joom and make his way to the hack stairs. 

Now’s our time,’ he cried excitedly. 
^ Come on ! ’ and he threw open the door and 
crept across the hall to the room they had 
just left. He was ahead, and he ran to the 
general’s uniform. 

‘ It ain ’t fair for you to have the best,’ 
grumbled Rob. 

^ Ain’t it ? Who got up this plan, I ’d like 
to know,’ sneered Al. Rob said no more, but 
silently gathered up the major’s uniform, and 
both boys stole back to their room. 


108 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ I must say I feel uncommonly like a 
thief/ said Rob, when the doors were locked. 

^ Pooh ! Miss Nancy ! who ’s going to do 
any harm ? Before ten o ’clock they ’ll be re- 
posing again on the beds ready for the own- 
ers, though maybe John ’ll have another job 
of brushing,’ he added with a laugh. ^ Is n’t 
it rich ! ’ 

During this talk the boys were throwing 
off their own clothes, and that done they pro- 
ceeded to dress themselves in the stolen, or, as 
A1 would say, borrowed uniforms. 

^ You better take off those orders, Al,' 
said Rob. 

‘ ’Fraid I ’ll take the shine off of you ? ’ 
laughed Albert. 

^ No ; something might happen to them.’ 

^ What ’s going to happen, I ’d like to 
know ? What a molly-coddle you are, Bob ! I 
thought you had more spirit ! You’ll never do 
for the city, I tell you.’ 

“ This was always an extinguisher to foolish 
Rob ; he said no more, and in a few minutes 
both boys were transformed into the appear- 


THE TABLES TURNED 109 

ance of a youthful general and major, and 
were admiring themselves greatly in the glass. 

The next thing was to get out of the 
house without being seen. By watching their 
chance they managed to go down the back 
way and slip out of a side door. Once out they 
took to the road leading out of town. 

^^^How far is it to this beggar’s house,’ 
asked Al. 

‘ About a mile, and all the way through 
the woods.’ 

‘^^Well, what of that! You ain’t afraid of 
the dark, are you ? Brought up in the woods 
to be scared by an owl ? ’ said Al. 

^^^You shut up! I ain’t any more afraid 
than you ; though I will say for your comfort 
that a panther ’s been seen around lately. You 
heard father tell the general to-day, and it 
was over this way, though a mile or more off.’ 

^ Pooh ! ’ said Al. ^ That ’s too thin ! Pan- 
thers don’t show themselves in this old settled 
country. Your country friends saw somebody’s 
stray cat ! Tell that to the marines,’ and he 
marched down the road. 


110 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


’s getting confounded dark!’ said Rob, 
after a while. 

‘ So it is ; and I hope you know the road. 
For my part I can’t keep out of the mud.’ 

‘ I hope you won’t get the pants muddy,’ 
said Rob anxiously. 

Shoot the pants! What’s John for! 
We ’ll be back in time for him to clean them.’ 

‘‘ ‘ What female relatives has Abraham the 
Redhead ? ’ began Al, after awhile. ‘ How 
many shall we have to scare at the house ? ’ 

‘ Nobody but mother and sister,’ said Rob ; 
^and the mother’s sick, I believe.’ 

^^^Now, Bob, you must let me do the talk- 
ing ; he ’ll know your voice.’ 

can make it gruff,’ said Rob, suiting 
the tone to the words. 

‘ That’s pretty good,’ said Al, ^but this is 
more like it,’ and he put on a very rough voice 
and threatening manner. ^ Now, Master Wil- 
son, we’ll trouble you to go with us! We’re 
officers of the law from New York and are 
here to arrest you.” Then he’ll ask what he’s 
done,’ said Al, dropping into his natural voice. 


THE TABLES TURNED 


111 


Never mind, sir, what you’ve done! You 
know well enough. Don’t try any of your in- 
nocency games on me ! I ’m too old a bird to 
be caught by chaff!” Then I’ll turn to you,’ 
said Al, in his natural voice again. Mr. Smith, 
bring out the handcuffs ! ” Then the female 
relatives will shriek ; the mother ’ll fall on her 
knees and the sister ’ll rain tears on me. What 
has he done ? Oh, good Mr. Officer, what has 
he done?” they’ll cry and sob; won’t it be 
rich ? ’ he interrupted himself. ^ What a lark ! 
This ’ll do to tell in the city. How the fellows 
will shout ! But to resume : we will take him 
between us, each hold of an arm, after reassur- 
ing the ladies, — if the young one happens to 
be pretty, — and we’ll march him down the 
road in perfect silence. When we get to your 
house we’ll march up to the front door, Susy 
will throw it open as we told her, and we ’ll 
march in before the company and present to 
the ladies Mr. Abraham the Redhead. Won’t 
he be a sight ! Won’t he rage! Oh, it’s capi- 
tal ! I never knew anything so rich ! ’ 

^^If the boys hadn’t both laughed at this 


112 


HARRIS RUNAWAY 


bright remark they might have heard a smoth- 
ered voice behind them; it sounded like a 
muttered, ^ Humph! didn’t you?’ 

But they heard nothing, and they strode 
on, still talking over plans and laughing at 
the fun they would have in giving Abraham 
the Bedhead a tremendous scare, and a deep 
mortification before all the young people of 
the town. 

A minute after A1 stopped suddenly. 

^ What was that noise. Bob?’ 

I did n’t hear anything,’ said Rob. ^What 
was it like?’ 

^ Something in the bushes beside the road, 
I think,’ said A1 in a low tone. ^ There 1 ’ as a 
low growl saluted their ears. Both boys stopped 
and listened. They heard the rustle of leaves, 
and all was still. 

^^^Poohl’ said A1 after a moment’s listen- 
ing. ^It was nothing ! Let’s go on; this is the 
horridest muddy road I ever struck 1 ’ and they 
took a step forward, though if there had been 
a light, two rather shaky boys would have 
been seen. But now the sound came louder, 


THE TABLES TURNED 113 

and was an unmistakable growl, accompanied 
by a rustle of branches. 

^ Let ’s go back ! ’ whispered A1 in a hor- 
ror-stricken tone. Then suddenly burst upon 
the still night air a growl ending in a fierce 
unmistakable snarl. 

^ The panther ! ’ shrieked Al. 

‘ Save yourself ! ’ yelled Rob, starting off 
like a shot for home. 

^ He ’s coming,’ cried Al. 

Fear lent wings, and through the mud 
they both tore at the top of their speed. They 
soon strayed from the road, Al tripped and 
fell full length into the ditch beside it, but 
sprang up instantly and ran on. Soon they 
crashed through bushes, and Rob went head- 
long over a log. Al’s coat caught on a 
broken branch; he tore himself away; there 
was a rip and something was left behind. 
But on they went, scratching themselves 
on bushes, stumbling over stones, and splash- 
ing through pools of mud ; all the time close 
behind them sounded steps in pursuit, and 
every few minutes came that angry, snarling 


114 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


cry which curdled their blood and increased 
their panic. 

Mr. Carter ’s house was at the edge of the 
village and the first one they came to. They 
rushed through the gate and, in their terror 
forgetting all about the company, they made 
for the front door. As they threw themselves 
against it with a wild idea of breaking it 
down, it flew open and both boys fell in a 
heap on the floor, nearly knocking down Susy 
and dreadfully frightening the roomful of 
girls, who being promised some funny sur- 
prise by Susy, had crowded around the door 
to see. 

‘ Shut the door quick ! ’ called A1 in ter- 
ror. ^ He ’s close behind ! ’ 

^ Who ? who ? ’ cried the company. 

^ The panther ! ’ gasped Rob. 

^ Give me a gun and let me shoot him ! ’ 
cried one of the young men excitedly. 

At mention of a gun a girl or two 
shrieked, and nobody knows what would have 
happened next, but a door across the hall 
opened, and Mr. Carter, followed by the gen- 


THE TABLES TURNED 


115 


eral and the major, who had returned unex- 
pectedly, came out of the library. 

^ What ’s all this ? ’ demanded Mr. Carter. 

The two hoys struggled to their feet, for 
all this had happened on the instant. 

What a sight ! hatless, pale, and gasping 
for breath, with clothes covered with mud 
from head to foot, the gay uniform torn in 
many places and utterly ruined ! A1 had left 
a part of the tail of the general’s coat on that 
branch in the woods, and of the decorations 
on the breast, three were gone. 

At this moment there came a ring of 
the door-bell. Mr. Carter opened it, and there 
stood Ra Wilson, holding in his hand the miss- 
ing coat tail. He, too, was out of breath and 
splashed with mud, but no fright, only an 
angry light, burned in his eyes. 

‘‘ ‘ One of you boys left this behind you,’ 
he said hastily, ^and I thought some one 
might want it.’ 

Were you behind us? Where ’s the pan- 
ther?’ cried Rob excitedly. 

A scornful smile broke over Ra’s face, but 


116 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


he said nothing. Indeed he had no need to 
say anything, for every one at once understood 
that he was the only panther. And then every- 
body remembered that he had a curious gift 
of imitating wild sounds, — could call the 
birds around him by imitating the cry of a 
bird in distress, and drive a cat into fits of 
rage by talking to her in her own language. 

The whole was plain ; he had scared the 
boys, and Mr. Carter turned on him. ^ This 
must be explained, Abraham. Come into the 
library! You, too, Robert and Albert,’ as the 
two boys were trying to sneak away. ^We 
must go to the bottom of this matter. General 
and Major, oblige me by coming too.’ 

The door was closed on the party and the 
young people returned to their amusements. 
They had received their surprise ; and lots of 
fun they seemed to find it, for they spent the 
evening laughing and talking it over. 

“ But in the library was a different scene. 

When the door was closed and the gen- 
tlemen seated, Mr. Carter turned to Abraham. 
^ Now, sir 1 ’ he said. 


THE TABLES TURNED 


117 


Abraham did not look in the least guilty. 
On the contrary a new light burned in his 
eyes and his bearing was manly. 

^ Perhaps I carried the thing too far, Mr. 
Carter. I will not deny that it may be so, 
though I had no reason to suspect that I was 
jeopardizing any one’s uniform. But I will tell 
you my provocation, first reminding you that 
my house stands alone and I have an invalid 
mother who suffers from nervous troubles, and 
who is in danger, as Dr. Miggs informs me, of 
becoming insane if unduly excited. 

^ I was on my way to join the company in 
the other room. When walking quietly along 
in the dark road, I heard voices and soon my 
own name, or rather the insulting nickname 
your nephew has given me, and I recognized 
the boys. Naturally I wondered why they 
were going towards my home, and knowing 
their fondness for mischief, I thought with 
anxiety of my mother and sister all alone. I 
turned and followed them to protect if neces- 
sary. They were talking loud and laughing, 
and I soon learned their plan, which was to go 


118 


HAERY’S RUNAWAY 


to my home and pass themselves off for offi- 
cers of the law come to arrest me for some 
unknown crime, and after frightening my 
mother and sister as much as possible, to drag 
me off between them and bring me here in 
that plight to furnish amusement for your 
company. 

^ My first thought was to fight them, hut 
they were two to one, and though this may 
not have restrained me, I thought of — I 
mean,’ he stammered — ^ I did not — ’ 

‘ Tell us exactly what you mean,’ said the 
general severely. 

^ Well, then,’ said he, while a bright color 
rose to the roots of his hair. ^ I knew Albert 
would run away, and I did not want to beat 
Kobert because — because of his sister.’ 

^ The sentiment does honor to your head 
and your heart,’ said the general heartily. 
^ Go on.’ 

^ Trying to plan what I should do, I 
suddenly thought of my trick of imitating 
animal sounds, and remembered a rumor was 
abroad that a panther had been seen. I thought 


THE TABLES TURNED 119 

it no harm to frighten them home. They ran 
so well and so fast that I had trouble to keep 
up, and I admit I brought this garment in to 
see how they would explain their plight.’ 

‘ That ’s perfectly natural ; you have told a 
straightforward story, and I have no doubt a 
perfectly true one,’ said Mr. Carter. ^ Moreover 
I know you are a truthful boy, and your 
mother has reason to be proud of you. Present 
my respects to her. And now you may join 
your young friends if you choose. These boys 
we will attend to.’ 

^ Thank you,’ said Abraham, with a bow, 
will go home, if you please. I am hardly 
fit to go among ladies. Good night,’ and he 
bowed himself out. 

Mr. Carter sighed and turned to the two 
culprits. 

^^^Now Robert, what have you to say for 
yourself? What excuse to offer for violating 
hospitality by stealing valuable clothing from 
guests, and worse, for planning what would 
no doubt have sent a worthy lady to an in- 
sane asylum — if not to her grave ? ’ 


120 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Well, of course there was no excuse to be 
given except the old foolish one which many 
boys think should excuse everything, ^ I meant 
no harm/ 

That, however, did not excuse these boys. 
After a very serious talking to, both from Mr. 
Carter and the general, they were locked into 
separate rooms for the night. In the morning 
Albert was sent home by an early train and a 
letter dispatched to his father. 

Robert was so penitent that his father at 
last forgave him, and did not send him away 
as he thought of doing. But his pocket money 
was stopped till the uniform was paid for, 
and, though his allowance was large, it took 
some time. 

The lost orders were found and brought 
back by Ra Wilson after half a day’s search.” 

While waiting for his molasses, which took 
an unusual time to draw, Harry got inter- 
ested in this story, and finding that it was 
not a runaway story, he sat down on a box to 
listen. Just as he was picking up his jug to 
go, Mr. Morton spoke. 


THE TABLES TURNED 


121 


Is n’t that the hoy — that Rob — that got 
into such a scrape when he was a college lad ? ” 
The very same,” said another man, but 
that one was his last. He was cured of pranks 
in one sharp lesson.’^ 

How was it ? I never understood exactly 
how it happened,” asked Mr. Morton. 

W ell,” said the other man, it began 
at an evening party where most of Robert’s 
class were invited.” 


CHAPTER VI 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 

^ You here yet, Rob ? ’ cried John Remsen 
banteringly, coming suddenly upon his friend 
enjoying a quiet chat with Miss Katie Clark. 
^ Why, I thought you ’d gone an hour ago ; 
remember the bell ! ’ 

^ I do remember it — worse luck — it ’s 
the plague of my life,’ answered Rob. 

^ You ’ve no idea. Miss Katie,’ went on 
J ohn half earnestly, ‘ how much trouble I have 
to get Rob up in time for morning prayers. 
Why, I almost have to drag him out of bed, 
always protesting that it ’s half an hour too 
early.’ 

^ W ell, five o’clock a. m. is an unconscion- 
able hour to begin a day,’ said Rob laughing, 
^ and if it were n’t for the solemn fifteen min- 
utes to pay for it, in Old — I beg your pardon, 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


123 


Miss Katie/ interrupting himself hastily, — 
^ I forgot myself/ 

^ Oh, you need n’t mind,’ said Katie laugh- 
ing. ^ I know well enough the fond names 
you college boys have bestowed on father, — 
and between us,’ she added in a lower tone, 
^ I don’t much blame you. It is horrid to get 
up at five o’ clock these cold mornings.’ 

^ With a fire just built,’ went on Rob, ^and 
a room like the North Pole. Some day I shall 
be found frozen stiff, and then won’t they be 
sorry ? ’ he added pathetically. 

^^^Well, if you’ll take the advice of a 
friend,’ said John, with mock earnestness, 
^you’ll make your adieus to Miss Katie and 
go straight home ; I shall never get you up in 
the morning.’ 

^^^And then reflect on that awful fifteen 
minutes!’ said Nelly Dunbar, who was one of 
the group. 

‘ That dreadful bell ! ’ cried Rob dramatic- 
ally, striking an attitude. ^ It poisons my life ! 
It must be exterminated ! ’ 

^‘‘Suppose you undertake the job,’ said 


124 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


John. fancy you’d find it a tougher one 
than getting up to its music.’ 

‘ Perhaps the bell will be frozen up to- 
night,’ suggested Katie, shivering in her light 
evening dress. ^ I ’m sure it ’s cold enough to 
freeze anything.’ 

Bless you, Miss Katie!’ exclaimed Kob, 
enthusiastically starting up. ‘ You ’ve given me 
an idea, — no sooner said than done! Let’s 
freeze it up ! ’ he added in a low, eager tone. 

‘ How ? ’ they all exclaimed, drawing a 
little away from the passing crowd, for this 
talk occurred at an evening party given by 
Mrs. Clark, the wife of the president. Kob 
looked cautiously around to see that they 
were not observed and then proposed the 
plan which Katie herself had suggested to 
him. 

< Why, John and I can go and turn that 
ugly piece of metal up like a cup, fill it with 
water, and let it freeze. Then I’ll defy old 
Tim to make it ring, and we can stay as late 
as we like to-night and finish our naps in the 
morning.’ 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


125 


how’ll you get into the chapel?’ 
asked Katie and Nelly in a breath. 

^ Oh, I know where Tim keeps the key,’ 
said Rob, getting much interested in his plan, 
^ and I can contrive some way to fix the bell. 
What do you say, John? ’ 

“ ^ I say you ’re joking,’ said John. 

^^^But I’m not!’ answered Rob earnestly. 
^ I ’m in dead earnest. We can do it in half an 
hour, and not be missed. Come on 1 ’ and he 
pretended to start. 

‘ Oh, yes, do 1 ’ exclaimed Katie. ‘ It ’ll be 
such fun 1 and let us go, too, Nelly. I’ve al- 
ways wanted to see the view from the belfry 
window by moonlight, and to-night’s lovely. 
Will you go, Nelly? that is, of course, pro- 
vided the gentleman will allow us,’ she added, 
turning to Rob. 

^^Rob hesitated at this proposal. To play 
tricks and get into mischief, himself, he never 
hesitated about for an instant, — to think of 
a joke and to play it were almost the same 
thing in his mind. But to draw two young 
girls into a possible scrape, one the daughter 


126 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


of the president and the other of a professor, 
— that made him pause. But Katie did not 
leave him long to meditate. 

^^^Come now! you boys always want to 
keep all the fun to yourselves 1 I declare if 
you back out I’ll go alone with Nelly — if 
she’ll consent.’ 

This put an end to Eob’s slight scruples, 
and John, who demurred more seriously, was 
easily overruled by the rest, who had now 
entered into the spirit of the fun. 

After a few whispered plans the four sep- 
arated and sauntered away in opposite direc- 
tions, and within a few minutes each had 
quietly slipped out of the house as agreed, 
and met at a certain side gate that led from 
the president’s garden to the chapel. 

The girls had secured shawls to throw over 
their light dresses, but their feet were clad in 
their evening slippers and their heads were 
uncovered. The boys had not been able to get 
hats unobserved, and so came out just as they 
were, and in this unsuitable plight the four 
conspirators took their way tp the chapel. 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


127 


Rob slipped around to the side door and 
got the key where he had seen old Tim, the 
janitor, put it, and unlocking the door, the 
gay, laughing party went in. Matches were 
at hand, and Tim’s lantern, which the boys 
lighted ; then they all proceeded to the belfry. 

^^Some old pieces of lumber which they 
found in an attic room on the way up, served 
to prop the bell in its upside-down position. 
The girls held the tongue of the bell, so that 
it should tell no tales of the outrage, while the 
boys arranged it securely in its unnatural place. 
In a few minutes that part was done and the 
girls seated themselves in one of the openings 
to get the desired moonlight view, while the 
boys went in search of pails and water. The 
lantern was placed at the head of the stairs to 
light them down and back, and the girls were 
left alone in the belfry. 

tell you, Katie,’ said Nelly, shivering in 
spite of her shawl, don’t half like this 
lonely place at night. Of course there are 
rats here, and I should be scared to death if 
I should see one.’ 


128 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


‘ Oh, nonsense ! ’ said Katie with her teeth 
chattering, ‘ they won’t hurt anybody, and do 
look how lovely the river and the falls look 
in the moonlight, and what splendid dark 
shadows Eagle Rock throws over the wood.’ 

‘ I don’t care a snap for that,’ said Nelly. 
^ Oh, what is that ? ’ seizing Katie’s arm as a 
strange sound reached her. 

‘‘ ‘ That ’s the squeak of the windlass of 
the well. Goosey,’ was Katie’s disgusted reply. 
^ What a coward you are, Nelly Dunbar ! Why, 
if it was n’t so cold here I could stay half the 
night, just to look at the lovely view.’ 

^ You ’re welcome to stay here,’ said Nelly 
impatiently. ^ I wish they ’d come back ! How 
long they do stay ! I believe they ’ve gone 
home ! and my feet are like icicles.’ 

‘ Well as I know Rob Carter’s love of fun 
and jokes,’ said Katie indignantly, never 
should suspect him of such a mean trick as 
that ! and you ought to know John Rem sen 
too well to think he would consent.’ 

^ Oh, dear ! here they come at last ! ’ was 
Nelly’s answer, as the welcome steps of the 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


129 


returning boys were heard coming up the 
stairs. 

^ Why, how long you were ! ’ and ^ Have 
you brought the water ? ’ said Nelly and 
Katie together. 

could n’t find the pails at first,’ said 
John. ^ I hope you did n’t get tired waiting.’ 

^ Not at all,’ said Katie, ^ only a little 
cold.’ 

We’ll fix the old nuisance now,’ said Rob 
exultingly, lifting up the pail and carefully 
pouring the water into the propped-up bell. 
John added his, and it was more than half full. 

^ Let ’s get two more to give it a brimmer 
and make sure,’ proposed Rob. 

‘ Oh, no!’ cried Nelly. ^We’re half frozen 
now, and I ’m afraid to stay alone 1 Let ’s go 
down 1 Besides they ’ll miss us if we stay 
longer.’ 

^ I think perhaps we better go,’ said Katie, 
slowly drawing away from her window, ‘ for 
they will be sure to notice if we are gone 
long. But I mean to come up here again — 
the view is lovely by moonlight.’ 


130 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


They started down, Rob ahead with the 
lantern, Katie last, as she turned on the stairs 
for another look. 

^ Come on, Katie ! ’ cried Nelly, half down 
the first stair. ^ Do you want to stay there 
alone ? ' 

Katie started suddenly ; the lantern was 
shaded by those who followed it; her dress 
caught on one of the rough boards used as a 
prop ; she turned back to release it ; hit the 
board with her foot, when it fell with a crash, 
jarring the nicely balanced bell and upsetting 
the other board. It all happened in a second. 
The boards fell ; the bell turned over, drench- 
ing them all with cold water, and sending out 
a wild clang upon the midnight air. 

shriek from Nelly, a muttered, ^By 
George, now we ’re in for it ! ’ from Rob, a 
smothered, ^ Hush for goodness sake ! ’ from 
John, followed the cold shower. 

^ Boys,’ said Katie’s brave voice, trembling 
half with cold and half with excitement, ^this 
is my fault ! I ’ll go directly to my father and 
confess all. You three slip out and run home.’ 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


131 


^ What do you take us for ? ’ asked Rob 
indignantly. ^ Leave you alone to bear the 
blame? Not for me. Miss Katie! I stand by 
you/ and he set the lantern down and went 
back to help her down the stairs. 

^It’s nonsense to talk of confessing/ said 
John hurriedly. ^We must hide, — hurry up! 
before they get here! we can slip into the 
chapel and hide somewhere there. We mustn’t 
be found out ! ’ and he hastily led the way 
downstairs to the chapel door. 

‘‘ In coming out on their wild errand the 
girls had thought of it only as a pleasant frolic, 
but in the prospect of being discovered by the 
scandal-loving villagers it began to look more 
serious and they were willing enough to hide 
till the storm blew over. Forgetting their wet 
clothes they hurried after John and in a few 
moments were snugly placed in a dark corner 
behind the organ, the unpleasant nook usu- 
ally occupied by the boy who blew the bel- 
lows. 

It was not a moment too soon, for they 
were hardly settled when a crowd of half 


132 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


superstitious, half rowdyish men and boys 
rushed in with lights and clubs and weapons 
of every description. 

They found the stairs dripping with water, 
two or three loose boards on the floor of the 
belfry, and the bell hanging silent in its usual 
place, — nothing more. A vigorous search was 
made, — not a nook or cranny of that part of 
the belfry was left unexplored. A few strayed 
into the dark, cold chapel. But it looked too 
silent and forbidding, and the trembling, shiv- 
ering conspirators were not found. 

^^A wordy discussion reached their ears, 
shrewd guesses were made as to the inten- 
tion of the catastrophe, and the whole was set 
down to some of the college boys, of course. 

^^It was too cold to linger, and after half 
an hour the place was deserted again, but 
carefully locked up. Old Tim attended to that 
and began to meditate a new hiding-place for 
his key. 

Despair struck to the hearts of three of 
the listeners when they heard the big key 
rattle in the lock and thought they were pris- 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


133 


oners, but Rob whispered assuringly that he 
knew a way out. And when all was quiet once 
more and he had carefully reconnoitred and 
found no one on the watch, he softly raised a 
window that was over a shed, got out, assisted 
the rest out, slipped down from the shed to 
the ground, helped the girls down, and then 
they started for home. Nelly dared not go 
back for her things, and Katie undertook 
to get them to her room by one of the ser- 
vants, so that no one should know. 

^^The two girls slipped into the back doors 
of their respective homes, and the two young 
men went to their room in the college, changed 
their clothes, and went back to the party so 
as not to be missed and to get their hats and 
coats. 

Katie did not appear downstairs again 
that night, — in fact she had a severe chill, 
and after taking off and hiding her wet clothes 
and getting ready for bed, she called up a ser- 
vant and sent word to her mother that she had 
gone to bed with a chill and did not want to 
be disturbed. 


134 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^^The story of the bell and the dripping 
stairs got abroad, with exaggerations and em- 
bellishments of course. There was a great deal 
of talk and many conjectures and guesses, but 
the real author of that piece of mischief was 
never discovered. Still it was not much of a 
triumph after all. Their unusual exposure to 
the cold in their thin clothes and their subse- 
quent drenching, and, worst of all, their long 
hiding in their wet condition told upon every 
one of them. Nelly took a frightful cold 
which ended in serious illness and kept her in 
the house, a sufferer, all winter. John’s cold 
settled on his lungs and made them weak for 
life, while all had the pain of seeing the deli- 
cate Katie Clark fade like a frost-bitten flower 
from that night. Her health had long been an 
anxiety to her parents, and she might never 
have been’ strong, but from the experience of 
that night she never recovered. 

Rob had an iron constitution and got off 
with a severe cold, but noticing from day to 
day the effect of that unfortunate frolic upon 
his companions thoroughly cured him of his 


ROB’S LAST JOKE 


135 


relish for college pranks. He devoted him- 
self seriously to his studies and surprised 
the faculty by becoming a good scholar. But 
that was emphatically his last frolic.’’ 

As the story ended Harry took up his jug 
of molasses to go, but the next remark inter- 
ested him and he forgot that he meant to start, 
and stood there holding his jug while the next 
story was told. 

That A1 was a tough one,” said another 
speaker. I remember a scrape he got into 
in college. His father was bound to have him 
go through college. I guess he hoped it would 
sober him down, but he was as bad as ever 
and never cared for books. His father took 
him out at the end of his Sophomore year, and 
that was soon after the scrape I spoke of that 
cost his father fifty or sixty dollars to settle, 
besides taking all his own pocket money. It 
was said at the time that he made up a pitiful 
story to his mother, and she gave him what 
she could spare of the housekeeping money, 
but A1 ’s father was pretty close with her, pro- 
bably because he knew she would give every 


136 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


cent she could spare to that mischievous son 
of hers.” 

^^What was the college scrape?” asked one 
of the loungers by the stove. I never heard 
of that.” 

^^Nor anybody else hereabouts. It was 
hushed up around here, hut it made some noise 
in the college town at the time, and one of 
my nephews who was there told me the whole 
story. It came near to getting Mr. A1 expelled, 
but he skinned through somehow. The trick 
this time was on the Freshman class ; he was a 
Sophomore, and of course he would lie awake 
nights to get ahead of the Freshies — as they 
called them.” 


CHAPTEE VII 
STEALING A BANQUET 

^^It was one of the customs in that college 
for the hoys of a class, — men they call them- 
selves, but while they act so much like boys 
I don’t think they deserve the name. Well, 
as I said, it was the custom for each class to 
have a big spread — banquet they called it 
— at some hotel near the end of the season. 

That year the Freshmen made their ar- 
rangements to have theirs at a certain hotel 
in the village. They kept the whole thing 
very secret, for they knew the Sophs would 
make trouble if they could, for that class, 
with A1 to hatch up mischief, had been all 
the year more tormenting than usual. 

The arrangements were all made and the 
Freshmen thought no hint of their plans had 
got out. But there seems always to be one 


138 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


traitor in a company or else it ’s in the air ; 
anyway, A1 got wind of it a few days before 
it was to come off, and at once set his wits to 
work to play them a trick. This was a great 
occasion, and he meant it should be a brilliant 
affair, an overwhelming blow to the lower class. 
He planned it carefully, thought out all the 
details, and took only two of his usual accom- 
plices into the secret, — two that stood by him 
through thick and thin and were as full of 
mean pranks as himself. 

The affair was set for one o’clock. A1 had 
found out the hour and the hotel, and early in 
the morning of that day he appeared in the office 
of the hotel, and with the most honest face 
he could put on, told the landlord that the 
boys had decided to have a little boat race 
on the river after the meal, and so would like 
to have it set for an hour earlier, if it would 
not inconvenience him. Very smooth and 
polite the rascal was, no doubt. 

That did n’t look unreasonable to the land- 
lord, but he asked why the young man who 
made the first arrangement didn’t come to 


STEALING A BANQUET *139 

order the change; he liked to deal with one 
person, he said. 

A1 was ready with his reply in a minute, 
he had some plausible excuse — I don’t just 
remember what it was — called away by tele- 
graph, or laid up by some accident or some- 
thing. At any rate it seemed not unlikely to 
the landlord, and when A1 added that he, too, 
was on the committee of arrangements, the 
landlord hesitated no longer but said he would 
arrange it, and all should be ready at twelve 
o’clock. You see the landlord was new to that 
town and not up to the pranks of college boys. 
They could n’t have fooled an old hand so 
easy. 

^^Then A1 returned to the college and 
quietly spread the news among the Sophs, 
that they were to feast at the expense of the 
Freshies at twelve o’clock, and not to mention 
it to anybody. They understood, of course, and 
entered into the plan with eagerness. 

^^Well, as luck would have it, the Fresh- 
men — not knowing of course anything about 
this interference with their plans — found 


140 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


that morning that three more plates than they 
had ordered would be needed, so the chair- 
man, who had made the bargain with the land- 
lord — Ralph Mills he was — went there to 
request the necessary addition. After this was 
settled the landlord said casually, under- 
stood you had been called away this morning.’ 

« ^ Why, how did you hear that ? ’ asked 
Ralph, suspicion at once aroused. 

« < Why, when your fellow committee-man 
came to change the hour he told me so.’ 

‘ Oh, he did ! ’ said Ralph, jumping at once 
to the conclusion that this was a trick of the 
Sophs, that they meant to eat the Freshmen’s 
banquet and be on hand when they appeared 
to exult over them, and thinking very fast and 
hard before saying anything more. If he told 
the landlord he had been deceived, the Sophs 
would simply find their plan had failed, no 
banquet would come off, and very likely a 
fight would result. 

^‘Better than this would be to turn the joke 
on them, to get even in a trick as clever as 
their own ; so when the landlord went on say- 


STEALING A BANQUET 141 

ing, ^ Yes, and though it put me to some extra 
trouble I agreed to have it ready at twelve/ he 
said carelessly, ^All right,’ and went out to 
perfect a plan which had instantly occurred 
to him, to baffle the enemy. 

“He hurried at once to another hotel, a 
rival concern on another street, and explaining 
a little of the matter to the landlord, asked him 
to get up a suitable spread for the Freshmen. 

“ This landlord was up to the ways of col- 
lege boys and not averse to a joke on his rival, 
so he said that if they would omit certain 
dishes that required long preparation he could 
serve it at one o’clock. 

“ This was satisfactory. So Ealph hurried 
back to inform his committee and make the 
new arrangement with the class. 

“ They waited till after twelve, when they 
were sure the whole Sophomore class would be 
safely in the dining-room of the Hotel Brown, 
and then posted members of the committee 
on streets leading to the hotel to warn every 
Freshman coming to the banquet of the change 
of place, promising them a rare victory over 


142 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


the Sophs if they went quietly to the new 
place. 

Then Ralph went again to the office of 
the Hotel Brown and said to the smiling land- 
lord, — 

suppose the boys are in the dining- 
room.’ 

^^^Yes,’ said he, ^and they’re about the 
jolliest lot I ever saw — but why aren’t you 
with them?’ 

“^Because,’ said Ralph, ^you have been 
fooled; they’re not the Freshmen but the 
Sophs, who think they have stolen the banquet 
I ordered. But they have not,’ he added 
quickly ; ^ our order was for one o’clock, this 
one was ordered for twelve and I came in to 
say that my arrangement with you is off — my 
class will not appear here to-day.’ 

‘‘ The landlord’s face fell and he said 
angrily, ^But what do I care for your school- 
boy tricks? You ordered the thing and you’ll 
pay.’ 

^ Certainly, if you’ll serve the Freshmen 
as agreed at one o’clock,’ said Ralph quietly. 


STEALING A BANQUET 143 

^ But of course that ’s impossible/ said the 
angry landlord. 

^ You need n’t lose anything/ said Kalph, 
anxious to quiet the man so that the fun should 
go on and not spoil his victory. came in on 
purpose to warn you. You are the victim of 
the greatest rogue in college, I suspect, — A1 
,’ and he described him. 

^ Yes, that’s the scamp,’ said the landlord. 

^^^Well, he has plenty of money, and if 
you take my advice and lay your plans, you 
won’t lose a cent, but you must be prepared, 
for the fun to them is thinking we ’re going 
to pay, and they won’t relish the idea of cash- 
ing up.’ 

^ They ’ll have to do it, though,’ grumbled 
the landlord. 

^^^You better have some policemen on 
hand,’ went on Ralph, ^ and not let a boy leave 
the room till he has paid up. Go on with the 
meal, so they can’t say they have n’t had it, 
but remember to hold on to Al, for if the 
rest can’t pay, he can, and he ’s the one who 
ordered it. But he ’s a tough one, and I warn 


144 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


you he’ll fight, so don’t neglect the police 
help,’ and with this he left. 

‘^Well, they say the Sophs had a great 
time. Excited by the thought of the Freshies’ 
dismay, they became uproarious ; they shouted 
— laughed — told stories — made speeches — 
sang songs — and in a word, acted like a party 
of madcaps, all the time exulting in the 
thought of their great victory. The idea that 
the banquet was not paid for never seemed to 
occur to them, for so well was A1 known in 
the town that he could n’t get ten cents’ worth 
of anything without the cash. So they all sup- 
posed they were feasting at the expense of the 
lower class and were hilarious accordingly, 
making jokes about the good things at so little 
cost to themselves, ordering extras and prais- 
ing the Freshies’ bill of fare. 

As one o’clock drew near, the jovial party 
began to look for the enemy. Every time a 
door opened they were all alert to see the 
dismay in the face of some Freshman, and they 
had much fun over what they should say and 
do, and how the boy would look. 


STEALING A BANQUET 145 

^‘But one o’clock passed and no Freshie 
appeared, and when this fact dawned upon 
them and anxious consultation of watches 
showed that the hour was past, they saw that 
their trick had been discovered. ^ Boys,’ said 
A1 at last, believe they’re on to our little 
game ; let ’s finish up and go out and see if 
we can find them lurking round anywhere 
spoiling for a fight.’ 

So they made preparations to leave, when 
suddenly the door opened and there entered 
two policemen and the landlord, who said 
quietly,— 

^ Young men, I’ll trouble you to pay for 
the meal you have eaten before you go.’ 

The boys looked at Al, who instantly said, 
^ Why, I supposed the chairman of the com- 
mittee attended to that little matter; if he 
did not, he will certainly call and settle — I’ll 
send him at once.’ 

^^The landlord spoke again more sternly, 
^ Drop that fooling ! it ’s no use keeping up the 
farce; I know all about the trick you have 
played on me ; but you ’ve had a good meal. 


I 146 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

and not a soul shall leave the room till it is 
paid for. Three dollars a plate, gentlemen ; 
cash up 1 I don’t propose to be cheated.’ 

Nobody wants to cheat!’ said A1 in his 
loftiest tone. ^The man who ordered the ban- 
quet has the money and will pay — I ’ll see 
that he does.’ 

Indeed!’ said the landlord, now thor- 
oughly angry. ^You ordered the dinner — 
and I ’ll see that you pay. If you ’re inclined 
to fight, why, I have plenty of help here, and 
if you prefer to go to the station — all right.’ 

^ But,’ said A1 in his grand manner, still 
trying to carry it off, ^ is n’t it customary for 
one who orders a spread to pay for it? Your 
attitude is peculiar — I must say ungentle- 
manly.’ 

^No use talking ! ’ said the landlord curtly. 
^ If you wish to avoid a big row and a scandal 
on top of it, I advise you to submit quietly.’ 

^ Let’s rush for it!’ cried one boy, ^we can 
manage three men — come on ! ’ and he made 
a move, but no one followed, for a glance at 
the burly fellows with their clubs ready to 


STEALING A BANQUET 147 

knock down the first one who appeared, made 
them hesitate. No one fancied having his head 
smashed, and they knew it would be no fun 
to tackle those old fighters; besides, there was 
the station house, and the college authorities, 
and their families as well, all to be reckoned 
with. 

They saw the case was lost, — they gave 
in ; A1 as usual took the lead. ^ Boys/ he said, 
^ I guess we ’re caught ; we don’t want the 
Freshies to get on to this — we’d better settle 
quietly.’ 

^ But I have n’t the money,’ began to be 
heard among the now crestfallen crowd. 

In the end every fellow went down into his 
pockets and produced his cash. Those who 
had the three dollars necessary to settle for 
their dinner were allowed to go, except Al, 
who was kept as security for all shortage. At 
last he had to give up his fine gold watch 
and chain as security for the remainder of 
the bill. 

When at last he got out, and appeared 
rather white and shamefaced among his angry 


148 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


classmates, who blamed him for the whole 
thing, and felt themselves not only beaten but 
mortified besides, he found them inclined, as 
they said, ‘ to take it out of him/ But he was, 
as we know, quick-witted, and when he saw 
their mood he rose to the occasion. 

“^Boys,’ he said, ^we mustn’t let the 
Freshies get wind of this; you shan’t lose 
anything,’ he went on grandiloquently ; ^ I ’ll 
get money from home and make it up to you 
all, but mum ’s the word. Anyway we had a 
good time and they had no banquet.’ 

This averted the threatened storm for the 
moment, but that evening appeared on the 
bulletin board, where every student was sure 
to see it, a printed bill of fare of the rival 
hotel and a printed slip cut from the ^ Even- 
ing Sun ’ describing the grand banquet of 
the Freshman class at the Hotel Bawleigh 
on that day. 

A1 had a great deal of trouble this time 
in getting money from home, and at last — 
as I said — he had to appeal to his father 
before he could keep his word to the boys 


STEALING A BANQUET 149 

and get back his watch. At the end of the 
term his father took him out and put him 
into business.” 

I hope that experience sobered him some- 
what,” said a bystander. 

I do’ know — I do’ know,” was the an- 
swer. It takes a deal to bring some fellows 
to their senses.” 

Another fool scrape!” thought Harry as 
he went along home. ‘‘ Seems to me the boys 
round here are a set of fools — they do such 
stupid things.” Then suddenly remembering 
his own foolish adventure he said no more, 
and that evening he listened almost patiently 
to the story of another boy’s getting himself 
into trouble by his own act. 

The next afternoon Harry went to the 
store as usual on errands for his aunt. He 
had a hst of half a dozen things which had 
to be weighed and measured and tied up 
into packages, while he stood waiting. Never 
was the shopkeeper so slow and never was the 
talk among the loungers so brisk. 

What seems the strangest to me in all 


150 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


these cases/’ said Mr. Wirt, is that really 
sensible boys will do such idiotic things — 
go off without money or friends, and expect 
to start right in to get a living.” 

Not all runaways are so foolish,” said a 
quiet little man sitting on a box over in the 
corner. He had not said anything before, and 
all eyes turned upon him now. 

I was over in town on a little business 
last week,” he went on, ^^and I heard a 
strange story of two boys who had run away 
from there two or three months before. They 
were fifteen or sixteen years old and belonged 
to two of the best famihes there.” 

Let’s have it,” said Mr. Wirt, and the 
stranger, settling himself more comfortably 
on his box, began. 


CHAPTER VIII 
IN THE WILD WEST 


‘^Cornelius Armstrong and Louis Jansen, 
who were great friends, had for a long time 
stuffed themselves with ten-cent novels, — 
the ^ Wild West ’ and Indian-fighting sort, — 
and had made up their minds to adopt that 
kind of a life when they had money enough 
to begin in good style. They had no idea of 
begging their way or tramping from here to 
the Wild West. They were used to comfort- 
able living and did n’t mean to give it up. 
So far they were sensible enough, consider- 
ing the stuff they had filled their minds with. 
But the temptation of a few hundred dollars 
was too much for them. 

Young Armstrong — Neal he was called 
— had a hit of ground his father had given 
him ; and he had a fine crop growing on it 
when somebody offered him a few hundred 


152 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


dollars for it just as it stood — three or four 
I believe it was. It was worth more than that, 
but it seemed too good a chance to lose to 
carry out their plans. So Neal took the cash 
and bound the buyer not to tell of his pur- 
chase for a week. He wanted to get away 
before his father knew of the sale. 

He lost no time in telling his chum, how- 
ever, and they went eagerly to work to get 
ready. They fitted themselves out each with 
a pistol and gun, with plenty of ammuni- 
tion for both, with long, savage-looking knives 
for the pocket, belts to hold their ammuni- 
tion, and various other things they thought 
would be useful in the wild life they intended 
to live. 

“ This done, they stole off one evening to 
the nearest big city to get their tickets, for it 
was their plan to stick to civilized ways till 
they reached the wilds. 

When they stood before the ticket-seller’s 
window and the man behind it asked them 
where they wanted to go, it suddenly struck 
them that they did n’t know. They knew they 


IN THE WILD WEST 


153 


wanted to go west, but to what point they 
could not tell. Armstrong, who was the cap- 
italist and spokesman, hesitated and turned 
to Louis, who was unable to make a sugges- 
tion. Meanwhile the ticket-seller, who knew 
boys, had looked them over and made up his 
mind about them, and he said, — 

‘ I ’ll tell you what to do, if you have n’t 
settled just where you want to stop ; you take 
tickets clear through to California. The road 
goes through desert and mountains and all 
kinds of places, and you can stop where it 
suits you. Then you keep the rest of your 
through tickets, and if you find you don’t like 
one place you can try another, and wind up 
in California if you like.’ 

This plan struck the boys as about the 
right thing, so Armstrong brought out his 
roll of bills and said he would take two 
through tickets. 

^ Will you have a return ticket?’ asked 
the man. ^ You may find it very handy and 
it ’s good for three months.’ 

^^^No, indeed!’ Neal protested. ^We’re 


154 


HAKRY’S RUNAWAY 


never coming back — unless perhaps/ he 
added, ^ after many years.’ 

The clerk smiled ; he recognized the dime- 
novel style and understood. He asked their 
names, for he suspected there would be in- 
quiry for such runaways. But they refused to 
give them, in fact they had abandoned their 
old names and adopted new ones of the 
‘wild and woolly’ variety, more suitable to 
the life they had determined to live. I don’t 
just remember the names, but they were the 
‘ Bloody-Bill ’ kind. 

“‘Poor kids!’ mused the ticket-seller as 
they moved off. ‘They’ll buy their expe- 
rience dear! I wish I could have induced them 
to take returns ; they ’ll wish they had.’ 

“ The conductor on the train eyed with 
suspicion two such well-armed and savage- 
looking young travelers, but said nothing, 
though he kept his eyes on them. 

“ As the train passed on through the W est- 
ern States and began to approach the desert, 
the boys kept a sharp lookout for a desirable 
place to stop, and at last decided to consult 


IN THE WILD WEST 


155 


the conductor, a new one who had come on 
at one of the last of the cities of the ^ Middle 
West; 

^ Can you direct us to a real wild place 
where — where life is simple and earnest/ be- 
gan Neal, drawing on his well-remembered 
novels for terms. ^ Where men say what they 
mean and do what they please ? ’ 

^^^Yes,’ said the conductor slowly, taking 
in the situation, ^yes, there’s aplenty of such 
on the road ; there ’s — let me see — there ’s 
Stedman, though perhaps that ’s rather civil- 
ized, — they ’ve got a schoolhouse, I believe ; 
how would Dead-Man’s Corner suit you?’ with 
sudden inspiration. ^ That ’s just the ticket, I 
should say ! mostly miners and cow-boys.’ 

The boys’ eyes sparkled. ^ That sounds 
like the real thing ! ’ whispered Louis. ^ Let ’s 
try that ! ’ 

^^^The through trains don’t usually stop 
there,’ went on the very accommodating con- 
ductor, ^ but if you men want to stop, I ’ll 
hold up the train and let you get off.’ 

After a few questions and very satisfac- 


156 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


tory answers from the grinning conductor, 
they decided to get off there, and toward night 
the train slowed up, to the evident astonish- 
ment of the men and boys who stood around 
to see the express go by. As the smiling 
conductor pulled the strap for the train to go 
on, a knowing wink to the surprised station- 
keeper explained the state of things as well 
as if he had spoken. 

^ Runaways come to be cow-boys and fight 
Indians,’ was his conclusion, while among 
the rough bystanders the word went round, 
^ Tenderf eet — let ’s have some fun with ’em.’ 

The settlement — one could n’t call it a 
town — consisted of perhaps half a dozen 
rough buildings, of which two or three were 
saloons, with generally a room upstairs for 
beds. The boys looked around for a hotel, but 
seeing none, at last asked the man who seemed 
to be in charge of the station, a mere shed. 
He directed them to a saloon near the track, 
as the best they had in the hotel line, and 
there the boys took their way, for they were 
hungry. They held themselves very straight. 


IN THE WILD WEST 


157 


for they saw they attracted general notice, and 
they were not surprised when they noted the 
unkempt and uncivilized appearance of the 
people. 

“ In the saloon, under an appropriate name 
which I don’t exactly remember just now, 
they asked for supper and were directed to 
a sort of rough shed at the back, where at a 
long hare-board table sat several men eating. 
As they started off, the man said sharply, 
‘ Four bits for grub ! ’ 

After they had paid, the boys went out 
and sat down on a bench to a supper of fried 
pork swimming in grease, and a great moun- 
tain of beans, with soda-crackers for bread. 

They were hungry and they managed to 
fill up with beans, and then asked the man in 
the saloon if he could give them a room. He 
laughed uproariously, and was joined by the 
half-dozen men who stood around. ^ A room ! ’ 
he repeated, laughing again, while the boys 
grew very red and angry. 

What s so funny in that ? ’ asked Neal 
savagely. 


158 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^ A room ! — a whole room to themselves ! ’ 
repeated the saloonkeeper; then, sobering him- 
self and turning to the boys, he said, — 

^ I can give you some sort of a bunk in 
the room with twenty other men, and the price 
of bed and board — my fine gentlemen — is 
two dollars a day — in advance ! ’n that ’s 
better ’n you can do anywhere else in this 
shebang/ 

Two dollars a day ! That would soon use 
up their little capital, but they did n’t yet 
know what to do, so they said they would 
take it. 

When the men gathered in the saloon 
after supper the boys were subjected to ques- 
tions and jokes and rough fun-making which 
they did not find at all funny. They tried to 
carry it off with dignity, refusing to give their 
names, their family history, and their object in 
coming to this obscure little place, though as 
to the latter point there was no doubt that 
these men guessed their object. 

^^They were chaffed in various ways and 
overwhelmed with advice of one sort and an- 


IN THE WILD WEST 


159 


other. One suggestion, however, struck them 
as sensible, — they must have horses, either 
to hunt game or to go about at all. With 
horses to carry them, they could go where 
they pleased, away from these teasing ruffians. 

So, after they had slept, or tried to sleep, 
in the attic of the saloon, with eight or ten 
other beds full of men, they had a breakfast 
like the supper of the night before, with the 
addition of a muddy-looking mess they called 
coffee, and then they went out for a walk 
away from the place, to talk over the situa- 
tion and plan what they should do. It had 
been their plan to find a cave or some sort of 
a shelter to live in, and then to shoot game 
enough to eat ; but somehow such fancies had 
withered before the coarse realities of the place. 
The best they could think of now, was to get 
horses and start off by themselves, — it had 
been a mistake to come to this rough place. 

^^They went back feeling better, and made 
known their wish to buy a couple of horses. 
As soon as this was known a dozen broncos 
appeared for sale with glib-tongued owners to 


160 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


praise their good qualities. Of course these city- 
bred boys didn’t know anything about the 
points of a horse, but they tried to look wise 
and selected what pleased their fancy, bar- 
gained for saddles and bridles, and after beat- 
ing down the price till it came within their 
means, found themselves the possessors of two 
rather commonplace animals, and not a cent 
in their pockets. 

‘^With this outfit the boys mounted and 
rode off, ignoring the saloon-keeper’s inquiry 
if they did n’t want to ^ grub up ’ before they 
went. 

^^The fresh pleasant air, and the joy of 
finding themselves at last mounted and set 
out on adventures, raised their spirits, which 
had begun to droop in that sordid hole. Again 
they felt like heroes ready to conquer the 
world. 

But before many hours they began to find 
themselves very hungry, and their steeds, too, 
had lost the vigor with which they started out, 
so they began to look about for game, while 
they picketed their horses, as they had been 


IN THE WILD WEST 


161 


taught, at a spot where something like grass 
was growing. 

“ W earily they wandered around, not daring 
to lose sight of their horses, lest they should 
be lost in this trackless wilderness. A few birds 
they saw and shot at, and once a jack rabbit 
sat up and turned his long ears towards them. 
Both shot eagerly, but the creature — his cu- 
riosity evidently satisfied — dropped his ears, 
turned and fled with tremendous bounds over 
the nearest ridge, while repeated bullets from 
the two guns sped harmlessly after him. 

Sadly disappointed and hungry enough to 
be angry, and even to reproach each other 
with not being able ^ to hit a barn door,’ the 
boys wandered back to the broncos, which 
— having stuffed themselves with the green 
stnff, whatever it was — were now restless and 
tugging at their picket ropes. 

^ I guess they want a drink,’ said Louis. 
^ Had n’t we better ride on and hunt a stream 
or a spring where we can camp for the night ? ’ 
For the sun was already low, and the chill of 
evening began to be felt. 


162 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^^Neal agreed and they were soon on their 
way again, wise enough this time to give 
their beasts their heads, hoping that it was true, 
as they had heard, that horses could scent 
water from afar. They did come to some 
sort of muddy pool where the animals drank 
eagerly, but which the boys, hungry and 
thirsty as they were, could n’t bring themselves 
to touch. 

^^Well, I can’t go over the records of 
the next few days; the boys never told it 
all; it is enough to say that they wandered 
about in that forlorn country, sometimes being 
able to shoot a rabbit or a bird, eating it, or 
rather devouring it, half raw, for though 
they had matches to start fires, they found 
very little of anything to burn. They came to 
the mountains, where they found water and 
food for the horses, but little for themselves. 

Once they came upon a great herd of 
cattle, whose tremendous wide-spread horns 
and fierce threatening actions scared them, 
and when, hoping at last to see real cow-boys, 
they crept around the herd, they were driven 


IN THE WILD WEST 


163 


away with horrible oaths, because they or 
their animals made the herd uneasy. 

This was their first and last encounter 
with the heroes they had been anxious to em- 
ulate ; they sought no more herds, wished for 
no more cow-boys, and sadly acknowledged to 
themselves that the stories had lied about 
them. 

There was still one thing left — Indians, 
though the air of the country or something 
else was fast dispelling all their illusions 
about the wild free life they had pictured. 
Even this last hope was destined to be rudely 
crushed, for one day they came upon an In- 
dian settlement almost before they knew it. 
On turning around the foot of a big hill 
they suddenly found themselves approaching a 
small village with neat-looking little houses, 
each with its garden patch and cultivated 
fields all about. 

Hoping to find hospitable folk, and to get 
some civilized food and comfort, they came 
nearer. As soon as they were seen, the cabins 
began to pour out their inmates, when the 


164 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


boys saw, to their amazement, that they were 
Indians. 

Indians ! actually living in houses and 
cultivating the ground ! They had never heard 
of such a thing. But Indians they were, and 
not a bit like the Indians of the books. They 
wore no blankets, but ragged and unspeakably 
dirty garments of the white man. They gath- 
ered around the two boys like a hive of bees ; 
they examined their broncos ; they fingered 
their equipments ; they handled their weapons ; 
they begged ammunition, communicating by 
grunts and occasionally a word or two, of 
which ^give ’ was the most common. 

In this way the boys — afraid to refuse 
the savage-looking creatures — parted with 
most of their remaining ammunition, with 
their cherished pistols, with their pocket 
knives, with their coats — which indeed they 
did not need in this warm country. 

By this time it was dark, and the Indians 
by signs asked the boys to have supper. 

Glad to have something to eat, even among 
this band of beggars, and besides, being 



THEY GATHERED AROUND THE TWO BOYS 






IN THE WILD WEST 165 

afraid to refuse, they dismounted, saw the 
broncos picketed by half a dozen eager hands, 
and went with their hosts into one of the 
cabins, where something was cooking in a big 
kettle on a stove. 

Something — they dared not guess what 

— was given them in a bowl, and they made 
a hearty meal, while the knowing looks which 
passed between the Indians around them 
showed that their half-starved condition was 
understood. 

Supper over, they were invited to sleep 
in another cabin where were rude beds, and 
tired out, they soon fell asleep. 

They were wakened after some hours by 
a gentle touch and a soft whisper. 

^ Go now !’ it said. ^ You must n’t stay ! 
lose everything — horses, guns, everything.’ 

‘‘ Wide awake now, they started up to see 
in the faint moonlight a young Indian girl. She 
was dressed better than most of the Indians, 
and evidently — as the boys afterwards decided 

— had attended one of the schools which are 
trying to elevate the race. 


166 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


She spoke plain English, and as soon as 
they understood and got up, she led them out 
a back way, where they found their broncos 
ready. They hastily mounted and stole softly 
away, and never remembered till the next 
morning that they had left their guns stand- 
ing in the corner of the room they had slept 
in. 

^^Now, indeed, they were helpless in this 
wild country. Both boys were by this time 
thoroughly disillusionized, and acknowledged 
to themselves that it was a wild, hopeless plan 
they had made, but neither had admitted it to 
the other till now. 

‘ Neal,’ exclaimed Louis, ^ the game ’s up ! 
Let ’s go on to California.’ 

‘‘ ‘ Sure ! ’ said Neal warmly. ^ Good thing 
we got those through tickets. I ’d have stayed 
here and starved before I ’d have gone home.’ 

‘ I, too,’ said Louis. 

Their next thought was to get to the 
railroad. In their wanderings they had often 
been for days out of hearing of passing trains, 
and they had no idea in which direction to 


IN THE WILD WEST 


167 


turn to reach it. Their only way was to go 
on till they came to a track and follow that 
till they came to a station. They could n’t 
make up their minds which way to go, so they 
left it again to their broncos and rode on all 
day, stopping only to let the animals graze. 

The next morning, to their consternation, 
they found but one of the beasts ; the other 
had pulled out the stake or picket pin and 
gone off. 

What to do now was the question ; if one 
of them took the remaining bronco and went 
after the other, he would be separated from 
his friend, and to be separated in this deso- 
late country was hopelessly to lose each 
other. This they would not consider, and they 
finally decided that they must take turns in 
riding, abandon the thought of finding the 
stray, and give their remaining strength to 
reaching the railroad. 

I don’t know, of course, all the details 
of those last few days’ wanderings. When at 
last they struck the iron track, they could 
have fallen down and worshiped it. It meant 


168 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

food and shelter and work and civilized life 
once more, and they were in a condition to 
appreciate all these comforts as never before. 

When, after following the rails several 
hours, they reached a station, — a solitary 
building ; station it seemed for a settlement a 
few miles off, — two ragged, foot-sore, starved, 
unkempt youths staggered into the building, 
and asked when a train for the West would 
be due, and if meantime they could get some- 
thing to eat. 

^‘The station agent looked doubtful, for 
indeed they must have appeared like the 
tramps they were. But Armstrong hastened 
to explain, — 

^^^We have a bronco out here that we’ll 
gladly give for food and a chance to clean up 
a little before the train comes. We lost our 
way and our other bronco,’ he went on, ^and 
have been some time without much food.’ 

“ The agent went to the door to see if they 
had told the truth, and seeing the beast — 
albeit thin and worn, too — he warmed a little, 
and telling the boys it was a bargain, took 


IN THE WILD WEST 169 

them into his room at the back of the station, 
gave them water and towels and combs and 
clothes-brushes, while he put a frying-pan 
and a kettle on his little stove, and by the 
time they had done what they could with 
water and brushes and combs to make a more 
civilized appearance, they sat down to a big 
dish of fried bacon, with crackers and a cup 
of coffee. 

It was the most civilized food the boys 
had eaten since they left home — two long, 
long weeks before. When they learned the 
day of the month they were amazed to find it 
was only two weeks. It seemed two months to 
them, and they felt sure it was a month at 
least, for in their wretchedness they had kept 
no count of days. 

This was a flag station only, and the boys 
had the pain of seeing the express whiz by 
an hour or two before the more accommodating 
local held up at the waving of the agent’s red 
flag, and they eagerly stepped on. 

They landed in the city of Los Angeles 
late one evening with a few dollars in their 


170 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


pockets, which the agent had given them in 
addition to their supper, for the bronco and 
saddle, and asking a policeman to direct them 
to a cheap lodging-house, they had, for the 
first time since leaving home, a decent bed 
in a decent house, and they decided with all 
their hearts that civilized ways were com- 
fortable after all, and the wild West lost its 
charm when one came too near it. 

Their aim now was to get work, but first 
they made themselves look a little less like 
tramps, with a few additions to their much 
worn wardrobes and a good bath and a hair- 
cut. Then feeling more civilized and human, 
they set out to find something to do. 

Several days they tramped the city, 
haunting the intelligence offices, but they were 
unable to find anjrthing they could do. There 
was plenty of need for workmen, but in every 
case it was skilled work that was wanted. 
Gardeners were wanted in the suburbs, but 
they knew nothing of gardening ; clerks, mes- 
sengers, teamsters, and so forth must know 
the city ; for every kind of work either skill 


IN THE WILD WEST 


171 


or physical strength was needed, and of both 
these the boys were destitute. 

“ Wandering out into the country around, 
after their small funds were exhausted, hop- 
ing to find employment on a ranch where just 
now there was a demand for help, they came 
at last to a small orange ranch where the 
manager was glad to employ them in picking 
the fruit. Two of his pickers had deserted, 
and he had a car standing on the siding 
waiting for its load, so he was in desperate 
need of immediate help. 

^^The boys were equipped with big bags 
hanging by straps from their shoulders, and, 
each with a light ladder to carry and a pair 
of orange-clippers, started on his way. The 
work did not seem hard; planting the ladder 
against the outside branches of the tree, the 
picker went up and gathered all the fruit he 
could reach, cutting every orange carefully 
from its stem and dropping it into the bag. 
When he had taken all he could reach, he 
moved the ladder along to a fresh place, and 
so he went on till the tree was stripped. When 


172 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


his bag was full, and almost too heavy to bear, 
he carried it to the place of washing, where 
the oranges were vigorously scrubbed by girls 
with stiff scrubbing brushes and water, and 
when perfectly clean were placed on a long 
sloping sort of tray, down which they slowly 
rolled — drying on the way — to the bottom, 
where they were sorted — the sound ones 
from the ^ culls/ 

Here began trouble for the new pickers. 
They had, it seemed, not been careful enough 
with their clippers, and many of the finest 
oranges were found with slight nicks in the 
skin, which made them unfit for packing, 
since they were destined for the Eastern 
market and would spoil on the way. 

As the pickers were paid according to the 
number of acceptable oranges they brought 
in, the two boys came out very small at the 
end of the day, as well as very tired, for the 
work was hard for a beginner. 

The manager was very angry at the num- 
ber of fine oranges which had to be thrown 
with the culls, so he took the boys off that 


IN THE WILD WEST 


173 


job, and set them at carrying the fruit, after 
it was sorted, to the packers. 

The packers were two Chinamen who sat 
in a shed by themselves, wrapped each orange 
in tissue paper and packed it in the box in 
which it was to go to the cars. This was the 
nicest part of the work, for all the fruit in a 
box must be exactly the same size, boxes being 
graded according to the number they held. 
None but the trained eye of a Chinaman — it 
seems — could at a glance place an orange in 
its suitable box, and so two of these Celes- 
tials sat grim and silent and packed, and drew 
the biggest wages of all, while a small army of 
pickers, washers, sorters, and carriers worked 
all day to supply them. 

One day the boys worked at carrying, and 
then the manager gave them the small wages 
they had earned, and dismissed them, saying 
they were not strong enough for the work. 

Back they started for the city, to tramp 
the weary streets again. But on the way they 
came to a strawberry field where acres and 
acres of strawberries were just beginning to 


174 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


ripen, the orange season being about over, 
and the strawberry season just beginning. 

‘^^We might at least pick strawberries,’ 
suggested Louis, and Neal agreeing, they went 
to the man overseeing half a dozen pickers, 
and asked for work. 

He was glad of help and hired them at 
once, giving them careful directions about the 
work, which did not seem hard to learn. All 
day long they worked at this, and at night they 
could hardly stand, their backs seemed broken 
and every bone in their body ached, and they 
had earned very little, at that. They were too 
weary and stiff to walk back to the city and 
their cheap lodging-house, so they spent part 
of their hard-earned wages in a car-ride. 

As they lay wide awake, aching from head 
to foot, too tired to sleep, and realizing that 
the weary search for work must begin again 
in the morning, Neal suddenly broke out with, 

^ Lu, I ’m ready to go home ! ’ 

“ ^Same here,’ answered Louis. 

‘ Of course, we ’ll have to stand a lot of 
chaff from the fellows and eat humble pie to 


IN THE WILD WEST 


175 


the Governor, but that ’s better than starving 
to death out here.’ 

‘^^Heap better! ’ answered Louis, ^ but how 
can we get home? Wish we’d taken that 
ticket-seller’s advice and got a return.’ 

^ I ’ve thought of that too,’ said Neal, ^and 
I ’ll tell you how I think we can manage. W e 
can go to the police station and probably get 
some one to telegraph home for us ; our folks’ll 
send the money, I know.’ 

^ I suppose so,’ said Louis rather ruefully, 
^ but don’t I hate it ! ’ 

‘ So do I,’ said Neal, ^ but we ’ve found out 
we were fools and we better own up and take 
our medicine.’ ” 

Just as the story was finished the clock 
struck six, and there was a general movement 
among the men to go, and Harry gathered up 
his parcels and started on a run for home. 

When he reached the house he went into the 
kitchen way as usual, left his things on the 
table, and started for the sitting-room to re- 
port to his aunt. The door of that room was 
ajar, and as he came near he heard a voice 


176 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


he recognized as that of a neighbor, a queer 
old lady, Mrs. Brown, whom he liked because, 
on rare occasions, when one could get her to 
talking, she told stories of the Wild West, 
where she had spent many years. 

It was plain she was telling one now, for 
the first words he heard were, There was 
some sense in his running away, for he wasn’t 
well treated. 

‘^Another!” said Harry to himself; ^^but 
hers ’ll be interesting, I know,” and he sat 
himself down on the stairs to listen. 

Mrs. Brown went on : — 


CHAPTER IX 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 

‘^You see Arthur Marvin was an orphan, poor 
fellow, and had to live with his uncle. His uncle 
was well enough for all I know, but he was a 
very busy man ; he kept the only store in the 
village and was postmaster besides, so, of 
course, he did n’t see much of the boy. But 
his uncle’s wife was one of those mad house- 
keepers who can’t abide a speck o’ dirt or 
anything out of order — real ^pizon neat,’ I 
calls ’em. 

^^Well, of course the boy disturbed her, 
how could he help it ! a bright, lively boy, in- 
terested in everything out of doors, ’specially 
live things, bugs ’n caterpillars ’n dogs ’n 
frogs ’n even snakes. An’ now I minds me it 
was a snake as made the trouble at last. 

^^The boy had found a snake — a little 
green one it was — what they call a garter 
snake, you know — pretty little things, I s’pose. 


178 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


though I never could bear to touch one. W ell, 
Arty brought it home and wanted to keep it 
— the land knows why — but he did, and he 
could n’t think of any place his aunt would n’t 
find it, so at last he lifted up the bedclothes 
and put it into his bed between the sheets. The 
bed was all made up and he thought it would 
be safe there. 

^^Well, it happened that Mrs. Marvin 
wanted to do something to that bed that day 
— I forget what — but maybe to change the 
sheets — anyway she threw back the clothes, 
and there was that wriggling snake. She gave 
a screech that brought Old Margaret — her 
kitchen help — running up to see what was 
the matter. Mrs. Marvin, it seems, was mortal 
afraid o ’ snakes, ’n she stood in the middle of 
the floor with her hand over her face, scream- 
ing? — 

^ Take it away ! take it away ! ’ 

Margaret could n’t help laughing softly to 
herself, but she had grown up in the country 
an’ was n’t afraid o’ garter snakes ; so she took 
a towel, — for she did n’t like to touch one, 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 179 

either, and gathered it up and threw it out o’ 
the window. 

^^‘That tormenting boy!’ burst out Mrs. 
Marvin. ^ I can’t stand it any longer 1 he ’ll 
drive me crazy ! if his uncle don’t send him 
away I shall go mad ! anyway he ’ll get a good 
whipping for this trick ; he did it on purpose 
to annoy me, I ’m certain.’ 

^^‘Oh, Mis’ Marvin,’ said Margaret, who was 
sorry for the hoy, — an’ indeed he was a nice 
little fellow, delicate as a girl, an’ so pretty- 
spoken, — ^oh. Mis’ Marvin,’ she said, ^ I don’t 
think that 1 you know he ’s awful fond of all 
live critters 1 I’ve seen him petting an old toad, 
an’ he ’s just wild to have a dog.’ 

^ The horrid brat ! ’ said his aunt. ‘ I dare 
say he ’d like to fill the house with beasts, but 
I won’t have it if I can help it, ’n I guess I ’m 
mistress here 1 ’ ’n she went muttering down 
the stairs. 

^ Sonny,’ said Margaret that noon, when 
Arty came in from the store, where he had 
been helping his uncle, ^what made you put 
a snake in your bed ? ’ 


180 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


she find it?’ he said in sudden 
alarm. ^ What did she say? What did she do 
with it ? ’ 

^ She was very angry/ said Margaret, ^ and 
she wouldn’t touch it; I had to go up and 
take it away.’ 

‘ Where is it ? ’ asked Arty anxiously. 

^‘^Oh, out in the grass, I guess,’ said 
Margaret; put it there.’ 

Arty started out to look for his pet, but 
at the door he met his aunt and stopped. 
He had never seen her so angry — she was 
fairly white with rage. 

^ You go straight upstairs to your room,’ 
she said to him sternly, ‘ and don’t you come 
out till I tell you.’ 

May n’t I — ’he began timidly, but she 
shut him up. ‘ Go I ’ she said, and of course 
he went. 

W ell, she tried again to get his uncle 
to put him in an orphan asylum, and they 
quarreled about it all through dinner — Old 
Margaret told me about it afterwards — but 
he would n’t do it, and after dinner Mrs. 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 181 

Marvin went upstairs and gave him an awful 
whipping, Magaret said, while she stood at 
the foot of the stairs, tears running down her 
face, — she was so sorry for him, and not 
daring to go to his aid, for she knew Mrs. 
Marvin would n’t stop at anything when she 
was in such a rage. She was just crazy mad, 
and that ’s the truth.” 

Well, what happened next? ” asked Mrs. 
Barnes. 

Next thing he disappeared.” 

Ran away ? ” asked Mrs. Barnes. 

No, not yet ; after dark he stole down 
the stairs, for she had left him all day without 
food. Margaret tried to steal up with some- 
thing for him, but Mrs. Marvin kept such a 
close watch she could n’t manage it. He stole 
down and went out the kitchen door, and that 
was the last any one saw of him for several 
days. 

Of course, every one thought he had run 
away, and his uncle and aunt had a great 
quarrel about it. His uncle really took it to 
heart, for though he never said much — his 


182 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


wife made such a fuss — he was, it seems, 
fond of Arty. Even Mrs. Marvin grew very 
white and silent while they searched every- 
where and dragged the pond, and advertised 
and everything, for now his uncle was 
roused, he was ready to do anything.” 

But where was he then ? ” asked Mrs. 
Barnes. 

No one believed that he was alive — so 
much noise had been made about him — ex- 
cept only Old Margaret. She noticed, after a 
day or two, that food began to disappear from 
the pantry. Doors were never locked in that 
house. Of course, she thought at once of 
Arty, but she did n’t say a word and was care- 
ful to leave something handy, and it always 
was gone in the morning. 

At last she made up her mind to catch 
him and see if she could n’t help him to get 
away, for she knew they would find him 
after a while. So one night she sat up in the 
kitchen without a light, and waited. Sure 
enough, about midnight, she heard the door 
open softly. She waited till she heard him 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 183 

go into the pantry, and then she spoke 
quietly. 

^ Arty/ she said, ^ don’t be scared,’ — for 
he started to run, — ^ it ’s only Old Margaret, 
and I want to help you.’ 

W ell, she made him understand that she 
would help him get away, and she told him 
the plan she had made for him.” 

But where had he been all this time ? ” 
interrupted Mrs. Barnes. 

He had the cutest place to hide you could 
think of. It was just under the house. You 
see the kitchen part was a sort of wing to the 
main house, and the cellar did n’t go under it. 
It was only a foot or so above the ground 
and the opening was boarded up. Arty had 
discovered one of the boards loose at one 
end, and he could pull it out far enough to 
crawl in. There the poor boy had hidden all 
this time, lying on the ground. He was a timid 
boy, as I said, and he was afraid to start out 
in that wild country with nowhere to go ; you 
see, settlements were far apart and he was 
mortally afraid he ’d be brought back to his 


184 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


aunt. His plan was to live there till he died. 
He meant to starve to death, but it ’s hard for 
a growing boy to starve when he knows where 
he can get food, so every night he could n’t 
help coming out for something to eat — and 
every morning he was strong in his deter- 
mination never to do it again. 

‘^Well, as I said, Margaret had made a 
plan, the best she could think of. She had a 
brother who was a miner and worked in a 
gold mine about forty miles from that place. 
This brother had a good position in the 
mine — he was n’t a common miner, and she 
knew that if she could get Arty there he 
would do what he could for him. 

“So she told Arty her plan, and he was 
very glad to do what she proposed — for if 
he could get away from his aunt he had no 
desire to die. So the next night when he 
came up, she had his other suit of clothes all 
brushed and ready for him, and water for 
him to wash, and after a good supper she got 
him into decent clothes, gave him a bag of 
food to eat on thie way, and pinned inside his 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 185 

clothes a letter she had written to her brother. 
She had no money to give him, for she got 
her wages quarterly and they were not due 
for a month, but she told him he must travel 
by night and hide by day, because he had 
been advertised and described. 

“ She impressed on his memory the name of 
the mine he was to go to, and the fact that he 
was to follow the main road and not leave it 
except to hide during the day. 

With these directions Arty started off for 
the long tramp to the ‘ Nancy Grey ’ mine. 
Old Margaret’s tears used to run down her 
cheeks, when she told me long years afterwards 
how she felt when the poor little fellow started 
off alone in the dark for his dreary walk 
across that wild, solitary country. Whether he 
would ever reach the mine or perish on the 
way, she did not know, but it was the very 
best she could do for him — of that she was 
sure.” 

hope he got there safely,” said Mrs. 
Barnes. 

Yes, he did, after several days’ — or rather 


186 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


nights’ — hard tramping. Once he strayed 
from the road in the dark and got lost, and it 
was a day or two before he found the stage 
road again. Margaret’s brother was a kind- 
hearted Irishman — like Margaret herself — 
and he took to the poor little fellow at once 
and tried to find work for him.” 

I should n’t think there was anything 
about a mine that such a boy could do,” said 
Mrs. Barnes. 

There was only one place for a little fel- 
low, and that was already filled, but Margaret’s 
brother kept Arty in his own cabin a week or 
two, where he worked enough to pay his 
board, until the boy ahead of him got a better 
place, and then Arty was made a nipper.” 

What in the world is a nipper ? ” asked 
Mrs. Barnes. 

Well, near as I understand it from 
what Margaret told me, a nipper is a boy 
who waits on the miners, — brings them pow- 
der for the blasting they ’re always doing, 
you know. At certain times Arty had to take 
powder in a case all ready to go off. He 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 187 

would start down the shaft, stop at the first 
station and take the powder wanted to the men 
there, then go on down to the next station, 
and so on till all were served. 

He was a clever little fellow, as I said, 
and a trick he played on some thieves made 
him friends among the mining people. You 
see, that mine was big and rambling, and part 
of it had been abandoned for some years, while 
a richer part was being worked. 

That abandoned part — as is the custom 
— had been leased to some miners who were 
working it, hoping to make a strike. Well, 
after a while Arty began to find that his pow- 
der gave out before he got to the last station, 
and he would have to go back for more. Then 
those who gave him the powder began to 
grumble at the great amount used. They sus- 
pected the men who had leased that part of 
the mine, but they were very indignant when 
accused, and indeed they all nearly came to 
blows about it. 

Now Arty was a bright boy, and he 
thought of a way to find out the thief for sure. 


188 ■ 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


He said nothing to anybody, but one day he 
took with him what they call a gun. It was 
in fact a sort of ^ squirt gun/ made of a piece 
of pipe which the miners used to draw up 
mud and water. This Arty filled with red 
paint which was being used about the build- 
ings, and at the first station where he stopped 
to deliver powder he hid himself near the 
shaft for a short time; but no one came to 
disturb the powder. At the next station he 
did the same, and his patience was rewarded, 
for in a few minutes he heard stealthy steps, 
and when he thought the thief was at the shaft, 
he turned his gun that way and let fly. There 
was a sudden cry and steps ran away, and Arty 
went back and told the men in charge of the 
powder to look out for red paint. Sure enough, 
when the leasers came to the surface one of 
them was a sight ! He had some excuse ready, 
but when he was charged with the theft he 
could not deny it.^’ 

That was a cute trick,” said Mrs. Barnes, 
while Harry outside on the stairs could hardly 
keep from laughing out loud. 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 189 

Yes, it was, and — as I said — it made him 
friends. He was a real pet among the rude 
men. He worked hard — too hard, Margaret 
used to say — for such a delicate boy, and he 
never got over the exposure of his life under 
the house. He seemed to have but one thought 
— how to repay Margaret for saving him. 
He worked out of hours for his board, and 
saved every penny he could earn in any way. 
He made friends with some officers of the 
company, and his story got around among 
those in power, so that they favored him in 
every way they could. After he had been there 
two years and everybody saw that he could not 
live, they even let him buy a bit of stock in 
the company, hoping — as he told Margaret’s 
brother — it would be worth something to 
Margaret some day. 

Then a wonderful thing happened, — at 
least it seemed wonderful, though it is common 
enough in mining. They suddenly struck a 
rich vein of ore, and the stock of the mine 
went up with a jump. No one was so happy 
over it as little Arty, for now he knew his bit 


190 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


of stock would really be worth something to 
the woman who had been his friend. I always 
suspected his friends added a bit to his stock, 
for when the boy died, enough stood in his 
name to make Margaret independent for life. 
She bought with it a little cabin and a bit of 
ground in the village, and supported herself 
by the vegetables she raised — she being the 
daughter of a fine gardener in the old country, 
and very fond of working out of doors.’’ 

Did his uncle and aunt ever know about 
all this ? ” asked Mrs. Barnes. 

^^Yes, they did; Margaret did n’t mean to 
tell them, but when she got the letter from her 
brother telling how the boy had worked for 
her, and actually made a will, by advice of his 
friends, and had sent her his love the last thing 
when he was dying, — when she got this 
letter she could n’t help rushing into the sit- 
ting-room where Mr. and Mrs. Marvin were, 
and telling the whole story, — how she had 
helped him off, how he had suffered, how he 
had saved all his money for her, crying all 
the time, and calling him her poor baby.” 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 191 

What did they say to that ? ” 

They were confounded, of course, — they 
supposed he was dead long ago. Mr. Marvin 
was overcome by sorrow and shame, but the 
aunt was hard to the last. When it was known 
that he had left a little money, she had the 
face to insist on her husband’s trying to get 
it, as the boy’s only kin, and the will of a mi- 
nor being no good. But Mr. Marvin steadily 
refused, and when I knew Margaret she was 
one of the cheeriest and happiest old women 
I ever knew. Only when she got to talking 
about her boy — she always cried from the first 
word to the last. 

But only look at the clock ! ” she broke out 
in altered tone. ^^My supper’ll be late and 
my old man always comes home so hungry ! I 
always forget myself when I tell Old Marga- 
ret’s story, but the runaway stories everybody’s 
telling just now made me think of it. How ’s 
Harry?” she added in a lower tone, on which, 
not waiting to hear his aunt’s answer, Harry 
stole away from the stairs into the kitchen and 
shut the outside door with a bang as if he had 


192 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


just come in. When he reached the sitting- 
room the story-teller was gone, and his aunt sat 
quietly sewing by the fire. 

By this time Harry was getting so used to 
stories about boys that everywhere he went 
he expected to hear one, and I ’m bound to 
say he was rarely disappointed. There really 
seemed to be an epidemic of story-telling in 
the village. 

The morning after hearing Mrs. Brown’s 
story he went to the grocery, as usual, for his 
aunt, and his entrance seemed to interrupt a 
conversation between the men who generally 
lounged there. 

The first words he heard interested him, and 
he put down the basket he had brought to 
carry home his packages, and took a seat on a 
nail-keg by the door, hoping that no one had 
noticed him. 

The words he heard were : That reminds 
me of a joke played by a boy I . once knew, 
George Allen by name. He was a great joker, 
always looking out for a chance for fun, as 
he called it.” 


HOW ARTY WENT TO THE MINES 193 

Boys’ fun sometimes turns out pretty 
serious business/’ said Mr. Jones. 

Yes, it did this time,” said Mr. Haskell. 
What was his notion of fun? ” asked Mr. 
Jones. Tell us the story.” 


CHAPTER X 


HOW GEORGE PLAYED BURGLAR 

George Allen had an old aunt living out 
in the country who could hardly ever be in- 
duced to come to the city, she had such a 
horror of its wickedness. Confidence men and 
kidnappers, she thought, walked the streets by 
day, but her pet dread was the burglar who 
prowled by night. 

When she did consent to visit her brother’s 
family in the city she inspected the locks with 
the greatest care, and insisted on having bolts 
on her doors. 

Now this was thought to be very funny 
by Master George, and when one morning his 
mother told him his Aunt Maria was coming 
to see them, he thought instantly that this 
would be a good chance for a joke. He was 
fond of his Aunt Maria, and had spent many 
a delightful summer at her house in the 


HOW GEORGE PLAYED BURGLAR 195 


country, and he had no wish to do her any 
harm, only — as he thought — to give her a 
little scare, and then have a good laugh with 
her about it. 

His plan was simple. His room and the 
room she would occupy were side by side, and 
both windows were above a porch covered 
with vines. Upon this porch and into his 
window, George had often climbed for the 
fun of it, and his plan now was to climb up 
and make his aunt think him a burglar. 

So that night, after Aunt Maria had seen 
to the locking of the doors and gone to bed, 
George slipped off his shoes and sneaked out 
of a side door when no one heard him, and 
went into the yard. He waited till the . light 
went out in his aunt’s room and then he 
began to climb up the bars which held 
the vines. He did not try to be too still; he 
wanted his aunt to hear, and he knew she 
had not closed her window. The vines rustled 
and the trellis creaked as he mounted till his 
head appeared above the edge. 

Meanwhile Aunt Maria was wide awake, 


196 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


and had heard his first step upon the walk. 
It was a burglar, of course, she thought, and 
she began to think what she should do. 

George expected that she would cry out 
and alarm the house, or faint away, or some- 
thing like that. But Aunt Maria was not that 
kind, — her way was to fight. So when she 
heard the stealthy night visitor, she thought 
what she could do. She had no weapon ; she 
did n’t want to knock him down with a chair, 
— though she thought of that, — but sud- 
denly her plan occurred to her. 

She had brought to her city sister some 
of her own superior country yeast, which 
she contended was better than anything in 
the city, — a great stone bottle of it, which 
still stood on the table where she had un- 
packed it and forgotten to take it down 
stairs. 

Now the nature of yeast when it gets to 
^ working,’ as it is called, is to become very 
lively and impatient of restraint. So the bottle 
or jug holding it has to be firmly corked and 
the cork fastened down. 


HOW GEORGE PLAYED BURGLAR 197 

^ I ’ll shoot him with my yeast/ thought 
Aunt Maria, with a pang at wasting such good 
stuff. ^ That won’t hurt him, but it ’ll drive 
him away and show him that folks are awake.’ 

She quite forgot that the cork would fly 
with the yeast, and if she were a good shot 
that might hurt. 

So she got her jug of yeast and a pair of 
scissors to cut the stout string that held the 
cork in, and placed herself near the window, 
where by the faint light of the street lamps 
she could see when a head appeared above 
the porch roof ; then she shook the jug to 
make the yeast ^ lively,’ and waited. 

When George’s head appeared she pointed 
the neck of the jug towards it, gave an extra 
shake and — cut the string ! 

There was an explosion, of escaping yeast, 
a smothered cry, and a heavy fall onto the 
ground below. 

^ I hope I did n’t hurt him,’ said Aunt 
Maria anxiously. ^ I did n’t mean to really hit 
him — and goodness me ! I forgot the cork ! 
but I guess it ’ll stop his breaking into folks’ 


198 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


houses for a while, anyway.’ So thinking, she 
closed her window and went to bed. 

“ The next morning, when she went down 
stairs, she was greeted with strange news. 
George, she was told, had stumbled and 
fallen over the porch steps and had broken his 
leg, and was at that moment in the hands of 
the doctors who were setting it. 

^^^But what I don’t understand,’ said his 
mother anxiously, ^is, how he happened to be 
out at that time of night, and without his 
shoes, too. But he won’t say a word about it.’ 

^How did you happen to find him? ’ asked 
Aunt Maria, in consternation at the injury she 
had done to her fayorite nephew. 

^ He dragged himseK to the door and man- 
aged to ring the bell,’ said his mother, ^and 
besides the broken leg, he’s got something 
in his eyes and hair that had to be washed 
out, and we ’re afraid will seriously affect his 
sight.’ 

^^Aunt Maria was horrified. She came near 
exclaiming, ^ It ’s only yeast, and it won’t hurt 
him,’ but she restrained herself just in time. 


HOW GEORGE PLAYED BURGLAR 199 

^^Now followed a long, tedious time for 
George Allen, lying on that bed while the leg 
healed. He missed the ball match in which 
he had a prominent place ; he had to give up 
the little three or four days’ trip taken by his 
class ; above all, being unable to study and 
take his examinations, he missed the pro- 
motion in school on which he had set his 
heart. 

‘‘ All this was hard, and Aunt Maria pitied 
him from the bottom of her heart. All through 
the trying time she was his devoted nurse. 
She had come to stay only a few days, but 
she stayed weeks, till George was able to get 
about on crutches, and then she took him 
home with her to finish his recovery in the 
country. 

^^Not a word had been said by either of 
them about the cause of all this trouble, 
though the matter was no doubt often in 
their thoughts. But one evening, sitting on 
the piazza with his aunt, he suddenly broke 
out with, ^Aunt Maria, what did you throw in 
my face that night?’ 


200 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


i Why, Georgie/ said his aunt, ^ it was only 
my yeast ; and I had no idea of hurting any- 
body, and, of course, I never dreamed that it 
was you/ 

‘ I suppose you thought it was a burglar,’ 
said George with a faint laugh. 

^ Of course I did,’ said his aunt, ‘ and I 
did n’t mean to hurt him, — I thought only 
of scaring him away, and in letting the yeast 
fly I forgot that the cork would fly too. I can’t 
tell you how sorry I am.’ 

You need n’t be sorry. Aunt Maria,’ he 
said, — ^ it served me just right for trying to 
frighten you. I think I ’ve got enough of 
playing jokes. I find they always get me into 
trouble, and this one — ’ He stopped. 

^ This one,’ said his Aunt Maria kindly, 
^ has been a very severe lesson, and I ’m sorry 
I was the means of giving it to you. But 
perhaps you needed it, George.’ 

^ Oh, yes,’ said George wearily, ^ I needed 
it all right, — and it ’s a sure cure.’ ” 

When the story ended, Harry slipped out 
and went home, determined not to hear any 


HOW GEORGE PLAYED BURGLAR 201 

more stories about boys’ fun, since it always 
seemed to get them into trouble. 

But be couldn’t help being interested in a 
mystery that the town was just then much ex- 
cited over, and he felt sure boys had nothing 
to do with that. 


CHAPTEK XI 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 

The trouble at Dean’s Hollow began about 
a particularly fine pear-tree belonging to Mrs. 
Norton, who lived a little out of the village. 

This fruit was a great temptation to the 
idle youth of the neighborhood, and, being in 
a lonely place, it was not hard for them to 
steal it. 

This summer, as it began to ripen, Willis, 
Mrs. Norton’s son, resolved to see if he 
could n’t keep it for their own use. He kept 
a light burning in the house at night to show 
thieves that some one was up, and several 
times during the night he went out to see 
that all was safe. 

One night, however, when the pears were 
about ready to gather, he was obliged to go 
ten miles away to attend to some business 
for his employer, and though Molly, his sister, 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 203 

thought she could watch the garden as well as 
he, she must have fallen asleep, for she did 
not hear a movement near the tree, and yet 
the fruit was gone. 

Willis Norton was a quick-witted boy. Be- 
ing honest and straightforward, attending to 
the work of his place — which was under 
clerk in the country store — he was naturally 
no favorite with idle, loafing boys, whose only 
purpose was to pass though life with as little 
trouble and as much fun ” (as they called 
their mischief) as possible. 

When Willis came home and heard of the 
loss of the pears, he put his wits to work to 
think who had known of his trip out of town, 
and he soon remembered that Lu Burns was 
in the store when Mr. Mills decided to send 
him, instead of the other clerk. 

The next time he saw Lu, he said, signifi- 
cantly, — 

I think I have a clue to the pear thieves, 
and I shall keep watch of them till I catch 
them at something.” 

Oh, you will ! ” sneered Lu. I wish you 


204 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


joy of your sneaking business ! If they only 
knew you were on their track, they’d no 
doubt come and confess to your ma ! ” 

Never mind,” said Willis. See if I don’t 
catch them in some mischief ! I know their 
tricks.” 

Smart boy ! ” said Lu, ironically. Does 
the antiquated lady know you’re out?” and 
he shut the door before Willis could open his 
mouth to reply. 

The mean sneak ! ” said he to himself, as 
he sauntered towards home. ‘‘ I ’ll pay him ofE 
for watching us. I ’ll — let me see — I ’ll — 
oh, I know ! I ’ll scare that prinked-up sister 
of his,” — a revenge just suited to a boy of 
his character. 

For several days he could not think of any 
plan, but pausing in an idle mood one day 
by an old superannuated grindstone, that had 
stood in the yard for years, exposed to rain 
and storm, he thoughtlessly seized the crank 
and gave it a turn. A doleful, wheezing creak 
rewarded his efforts, and at that instant the 
thought came to him. 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 205 

He sat down on a log near by, and for the 
space of five minutes — a long time for him 
— was in deep study. When he rose, there 
was a smile on his face and a resolute look in 
his eyes, and he muttered to himself, — 

I ’ll do it ! — if the boys ’ll help.” 

For a few days after that chance turn of 
the grindstone handle, there was unusual quiet 
in the village. No fruit was stolen, no pigs 
turned into a neighbor ’s field, no cows driven 
off into the woods. The Burns gang seemed 
to have suddenly grown industrious and quiet. 
Though Willis kept his sharp eyes very wide 
open, he scarcely saw any of them, nor did he 
hear of any new mischief. 

At last, however, there came a sensation 
with a vengeance. One night Molly Norton, 
who had to go through a piece of woods to 
school, came flying into the house, wild-eyed 
and pale as death, without shawl or books. 
On being questioned, she declared that she 
had heard frightful groans and horrid shrieks 
in the woods, which so frightened her that 
she ran, and lost her books and shawl. 


206 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Mrs. Norton laughed at her, and tried to 
persuade her to go back and find her 
things. But Molly was too much disturbed to 
be laughed out of her fright, and when 
Willis came home, he heard the story. 

Of course he poohed at her terrors, and said 
he would go and hunt up the things. So, 
taking a big stick, he started down the road. 

Now Dean’s Hollow was in a lonely strip of 
woods, not very wide, — perhaps a quarter of 
a mile, — but several miles long, and though 
a well-traveled road ran through it, it was 
rather dismal, especially at dusk, at which time 
Wilhs entered it. 

He walked on very bravely, thinking how 
he would laugh at Molly, and whistling softly 
as he went, till he came to a little bridge 
which crossed a stream. Just as his foot touched 
the plank, he heard a long-drawn, quavering 
groan on the right. It had a peculiarly weird 
and unearthly wail, not like any sound he ever 
heard or imagined. 

Willis felt himself turn white ; but he was 
brave, and determined to go on. He crossed 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 207 

the bridge hastily and walked along the path, 
looking earnestly for the missing articles. In 
a moment more he again heard an unearthly 
groan, more horrible than before. 

Willis’s knees knocked together ; but at that 
instant he caught a glimpse of the bright 
shawl, and hastily snatching it up, he turned 
towards home, forgetting in his haste the 
books that had also been lost. 

I will not say positively that he ran — but 
when he reached the house he was a little 
out of breath, though when accused of it, he 
laughed, and said it was nothing, and that it 
was too dark to see the books. 

This was only the beginning of trouble. 
Molly positively refused to go through the 
woods alone the next day, and waited till a 
neighbor drove through, and begged a ride 
with him. After school she went to the store 
and waited till it was time for Willis to go 
home. 

They started boldly, both trying to be lively, 
and pretending they were not afraid, though 
it was getting dark. But when thoy approached 


208 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


the little bridge, the same horrible sound broke 
the deep silence. Molly positively shrieked, 
and perhaps Willis would have shrieked too, 
if he hadn’t felt that he was the big brother.” 
Anyway, they hurried home very fast; and 
then Willis admitted that he had heard some- 
thing the night before. 

The story got out, and was the beginning 
of the great excitement of the “ Mystery of 
Dean’s Hollow,” which stirred the whole sur- 
rounding country to its depths, and will doubt- 
less be remembered by many yet living. 
Through the day all was quiet, and the most 
careful searching by half the village failed to 
discover anything unusual, or any place of 
concealment in the whole woods. 

As the story spread, people came from the 
neighboring towns, and many times large par- 
ties set out and scoured the woods, till there 
was hardly a tree that had not been sounded 
for a hollow trunk, nor a rock that had not 
been searched for a hiding-place, nor a bank 
that had not been pierced with hay-forks, to 
discover a cause for these sounds; for the 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 209 

sturdy common sense of the neighborhood 
was not superstitious enough to accept them 
as supernatural. 

The woods, however, remained as usual un- 
til near evening ; but as soon as it was too dark 
to see clearly, those terrible, unearthly sounds 
— long-drawn, quavering groans followed by 
wheezy shrieks — would begin again. 

The crowd — for every night attracted a 
large assembly — would rush in a body towards 
the sound, to find out where it was, and the 
next moment it would come from a far-ofE 
quarter, worse and more terrifying than before. 
Children screamed, superstitious women went 
into convulsions, and men turned pale; but 
away they would rush towards the sound. 
Then it would begin anew in still another 
direction. 

This went on for a fortnight. The story 
spread like wildfire. Every man within fifty 
miles, who was able to do so, came to hear 
for himself the mysterious sounds of Dean’s 
Hollow. Of course, all this time the wildest 
stories were rife of unheard-of tragedies and 


210 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


other things which the fertile imagination of 
men will invent on similar occasions. 

Business was neglected ; school was a mere 
farce ; the men lounged about the store and 
talked about the noises, telling each other 
horrible stories; and all the women visited 
each other in their homes and did the same. 
Children clung to their mothers’ apron-strings, 
and things were going generally to rack and 
ruin. 

Things had come to this pass when one day 
Mr. Mills, quietly and without attracting 
notice, asked half a dozen of the most sensible 
and least frightened men to meet privately, 
after dark, in the back room of the store. 

When they had assembled, Mr. Mills told 
them that Willis Norton had suggested to him 
a possible solution of the mystery, and he 
wanted to talk it over with them ; for though 
Willis was but a boy, he was a bright one, and 
having suspicions from the first, he had been 
very sharp in watching. So Willis was called 
in to tell his story. 

You all know,” he began, modestly, ‘Hhat 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 211 


this was heard first by my sister and me. I 
thought at the time that it was done by some 
enemy of mine; so I’ve been watching the 
ones I suspected, the Burns hoys, and I’ve 
found out two or three things that make me 
’most sure they’re at the bottom of it.” 

^^WeU, what have you found out, boy?” 
asked Mr. Brooks, rather incredulously. 

^^I’ve noticed,” said Willis, that there 
is never but one of the Burns gang in the 
crowd at night. Sometimes one and sometimes 
another.” 

That ’s nothing very surprising,” said Mr. 
Brooks. 

^^I don’t know about that,” said Mr. Jones. 

Those boys are ’most everywhere, I’ve ob- 
served.” 

Whichever one is there,” said Willis, turn- 
ing gratefully towards Mr. Jones, always 
tries to take the lead in drawing the crowd 
away from the noise. He always seems to have 
a reason. Then I ’ve noticed they are not at 
all scared; and they ’re just the ones to run 
away from the noises if they did n’t know any- 


212 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


thing about them. I saw Tom Martin laugh 
one night when the people ran.” 

I wonder we never thought of that gang,” 
said Mr. Jones. 

I did think of them,” said Mr. Mills, but 
on looking around, I could always see one of 
them, but it never occurred to me that they 
were not all of them there. I should n’t won- 
der if the youngster had the right clue, but 
where in the mischief can they hide ? ” 

I think they could easily hide in the upper 
part of the trees,”said Willis. I have looked 
at them in the daytime, and they are very 
thick.” 

‘^But no boys, however smart,” said Mr. 
Brooks, who did n’t seem to like the possibility 
of such a commonplace ending to the mystery, 
could make such dreadful sounds. They ’re 
not human ! ” 

So I thought, and so I told Willis,” said 
Mr. Mills ; but you must hear his perform- 
ance on an old horn before you decide what 
boys can’t do ; though, to be sure, a horn is n’t 
what you ’d call human. Willis, bring it out.” 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 213 


Willis produced from a drawer a battered tin 
horn, and proceeded to draw from it some dole- 
ful sounds, which surprised the audience. 

I declare,’’ exclaimed Mr. Jones, that ac- 
tually does sound like it, if you allow for dis- 
tance, and dark woods, and a frightened 
crowd ! ” 

I believe we ’ve all been a pack of fools,” 
said Mr. Wilson, “and duped by a gang of ras- 
cals ; but if we can catch them it shall be their 
last prank in this town.” 

“That’s what Willis and I’ve been talking 
about, and what I believe we can do,” said Mr. 
Mills. 

“ Well, out with the plan,” said Mr. Brooks. 

“What do you think of this?” said Mr. 
Mills. “Willis found that the sounds came only 
from three places. We thought that if two of 
us should quietly take each of these directions, 
only separate from the crowd, without being 
noticed, we might slip up near enough to tell, 
the next time the sounds broke out, exactly 
what spot they came from.” 

“ That’s it ! That’s a good plan ! ” cried Mr. 


214 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Jones, violently slapping his knee ; “ and I 
propose we go at once. I want to bring this 
thing to the light, and see if a pack of 
scamps like that Burns gang can get up such 
a row.’’ 

A little more discussion followed. The men 
carefully made their plans, divided into parties 
of two, and quietly stole out of the store. 
Taking their way to the woods, they found 
the performance in full blast, the crowds surg- 
ing hither and thither as the groans appeared 
to come from this way or that. 

Following the plan agreed upon, when the 
crowd rushed in one direction, Mr. Mills and 
Mr. Jones stole softly nearer, and when the 
sounds came from afar off, and the crowd ran 
that way, these two quietly stood their ground, 
making no sound. In this way the three par- 
ties, in a short time, managed each to be near 
enough to tell definitely in which tree to look 
for the noises. 

A sudden shout at the foot of one tree, 
after a louder groan than usual, sent terror to 
the heart of — Lii Burns ! 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 215 

The shout was, We Ve got him ! ’’ and a 
calm, stern voice followed it up with, — 

Now, young man, if you don’t come down 
out of this tree in just one minute, I shall fire 
into it ! ” emphasizing the remark by a knock 
on the trunk. 

Lu saw that it was all over, but he did n’t 
fancy facing a duped crowd, so he slunk into 
as small a place as possible, hoping they 
would n’t shoot. 

A minute went by, and then a shot whistled 
up through the tree. There was a rustle, and 
a scramble, and a sliding, and in a moment 
Lu Burns dropped from the lowest limb, and 
an old ram’s horn tumbled after him. 

The two men seized him by the arms, and 
hastened towards the other trees. Each party 
soon secured its prisoner, and the three hang- 
dog-looking boys were marched to the village 
and locked for the night in an extemporized 
jail. 

After a night of anxiety, they were ready 
enough to tell the story they had sullenly re- 
fused to tell when caught, and Lu told it for all. 


216 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

was mad at Will Norton/’ he began. 

We only meant to scare his sister, but when 
we found how easy we could fool folks, we did 
it just for fun. We did n’t mean any harm,” 
he whined, seeing little sympathy with such 
fun on the faces of his listeners. 

On being questioned, he told how the creak- 
ing old grindstone first suggested to him a 
way to frighten Molly Norton, who passed 
through the woods to school. With the help 
of the boys and some rope, he had succeeded 
in pulling it up into a tree, where a mass of 
old crows’ nests and branches concealed it 
from sight. There it was securely tied. A 
ram’s horn was hidden in another tree and an 
old fish-horn in another. Each night three 
of the boys repaired to their posts, while the 
fourth stayed in the crowd to avoid suspicion, 
and to lead people away from the trees. 

And this was all, — the mean, low sport of 
four mischievous boys ! 

While the indignant people were deliber- 
ating what should be done with them, — 
since there was no law exactly touching their 


THE MYSTERY OF DEAN’S HOLLOW 217 


case, — Mr. Burns, their father, asked leave to 
speak. 

He said that he and his wife had long been 
tried with their boys, and the last night they 
had talked it over, and decided to put Louis 
on board a ship, where he would be made to 
obey ; and as Will was younger and more 
easily led, they proposed to put him in a 
severe military school, in the hope of making 
a decent man of him some day. 

The neighbors, who were sorry for Mr. and 
Mrs. Burns, readily gave the two boys up to 
him, and in a few days Lu sailed on a three 
years’ voyage, and Will began his school life. 

The other two of the gang, who were only 
followers of the Burns boys, were severely 
reprimanded, and on their promise to behave 
themselves, were set free. They did not soon 
forget the lesson of that day. The last I heard 
of them they were both respectable farmers. 
Will Burns ran away from school and enlisted 
as a common soldier, and Lu never returned 
to the village. 

^^More boys’ fun getting them into trouble,” 


218 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


said Harry Barnes to himself, as he walked 
home after that night’s discovery of the 
Burns gang. I wonder who ’ll be found out 
next ! Perhaps the queer thief we hear so 
much about. He would n’t turn out to be a 
boy, I know ! ” 

Strange to say, that mystery of the town 
was also solved a few days later by a sort of 
accident to Carl Marsh one day when he was 
out hunting. 


CHAPTER XII 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 

Well, I must say I don’t half like this,” 
said Carl Marsh to himself, stepping a little 
faster as he spoke, and looking anxiously at 
the ground on all sides. It ’s too dark to see 
the trail,” he went on, and this part of the 
woods is perfectly strange to me. I — I — 
really believe I ’m lost ! ” 

I would n’t mind camping out,” he con- 
tinued, after a few moments’ thought, but 
I’m not over well fixed, nothing to eat, not 
even a blanket to sleep on, and — and” — 
feeling in his pockets — not even a solitary 
match to light a fire. I’m cold now, and half 
starved besides ; ” and the boy of fifteen threw 
himself rather disconsolately on a bed of moss. 

‘^There’s nothing to be afraid of,” he 
thought, ^^only small game in these woods, 
and very shy at that, as I know to my cost,” 


220 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


looking at his empty game-bag. I suppose 
one night’s fasting won’t kill me, but the 
folks ’ll be sure I ’ve shot myself with my new 
gun, and I ’m afraid they ’ll have half Hill- 
side out to hunt me before morning.” 

^^Then everybody’ll know I didn’t kill 
anything,” he added in a vexed tone. I tell 
you what ! ” — as a new thought struck him 
— I ’ll hide the game-bag, and pretend it is 
lost, and let the boys guess how much game 
was in it.” 

No sooner said than done. He threw his 
precious new bag up into the thick branches 
of the tree above him, and then with his knife 
cut an H in the bark to guide him to it again. 

I suppose I might as well go to bed,” 
was his next remark. ^^How funny to sleep 
with my clothes on ! I always. wanted to ; hut 
I think a blanket and a pillow would be com- 
fortable.” 

Thinking what a fine adventure this would 
he to tell to the hoys, and feeling very manly 
and experienced, he made himself as comfort- 
able as he could on the mossy bed, and soon 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 221 


fell asleep, not much disturbed by the thought 
of a night in the woods. It was different, how- 
ever, when he waked, several hours later. His 
hard bed had given him ugly dreams, and some 
sudden, sharp sound roused him. He was in a 
moment wide awake and listening. It was 
pitch dark, and not a sound to be heard, except 
the wind in the trees, and now and then the 
snapping of a dry twig, as though some animal 
was moving about. 

Carl now remembered, for the first time, 
stories that he had heard about these woods : 
that shooting was heard in them at night, and 
a man’s figure sometimes seen gliding quickly 
past without a sound, and bearing a gun. Then, 
too, he thought of Hillside’s one mystery, a 
mysterious thief, so unlike ordinary thieves that 
superstitious people did not hesitate to say it 
was no mortal. Neither money, jewels, or silver 
tempted this strange thief ; and of the curious 
things he selected, he never took but one article 
from a house. Here a coat, there a loaf of cake; 
now a late newspaper, and again a fresh pie ; 
to-night a pair of shoes, and next week a book; 


222 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


from Jones’s store full of goods a jackknife, 
and from Stevens’s big grocery a can of kero- 
sene oil. The town was small, and every suspi- 
cious person well known and closely watched, 
but years had passed since the mysterious thief 
had begun his visits, and not the smallest clue 
to his identity yet existed. 

These unpleasant thoughts crowded into 
Carl’s head, as he sat under the tree in that 
dark night. His eyes were peering intently 
before him, when he thought he saw something 
on the ground not ten feet away. As he fan- 
cied, there appeared suddenly a faint light, 
with the well-defined figure of a man in stoop- 
ing position before it. It was gone in an in- 
stant, and was followed by a rustle as though 
of footsteps, but before Carl recovered from 
the cold horror into which he was thrown, all 
was still again. 

There was no more sleep for him that night. 
It was so quiet in the woods that sometimes he 
fancied he mast have dreamed of that strange 
instant’s vision. During the long, long hours, 
he thought of all the ghost stories he had ever 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 223 


read, and of the strange reports of the myste- 
rious thief, and all other dismal things. 

After a while he had nearly persuaded him- 
seK that that instant’s vision of a light and a 
man was a dream, and had begun to grow 
drowsy again, when suddenly he was wide 
awake once more. Surely he heard steps ! He 
looked sharply before him. There was the 
faintest beginning of daylight, and he was 
sure he saw an indistinct and bundled-up fig- 
ure pass before him without sound, and melt 
away or disappear in the earth a few feet be- 
yond. 

This last sight so frightened him that he 
crept behind the tree, and hurried away as fast 
as he could. It was not long now before morn- 
ing, and as soon as he could see, Carl began 
to look for the trail. He discovered it not 
twenty feet from where he had passed the 
night, and at once started for the village. He 
found all tranquil at home, the family having 
understood that he would stay all night with 
a friend, but the whole town was agitated by 
the news that the mysterious thing had paid 


224 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

a visit to the house of Mrs. A, and carried off 
a blanket. 

Ah ! ” thought Carl instantly, that figure 
looked like a man with a blanket over his 
shoulder.” 

He told no one, however, because there 
was so strong a belief in the woods’ being 
haunted that he knew he should be laughed 
at, and more than that, he could n’t bear to 
lose the reputation for bravery which his 
night’s exploit had given him. After a week 
or more, however, he began to think of his 
new game-bag up in that tree, and to long 
to go after it. Yet — though he never would 
have owned it — he was really afraid to go 
alone, and to tell any of the boys would re- 
veal the truth of its being hidden. 

After much thought he resolved to tell Uncle 
Dick. His Uncle Dick was Carl’s refuge in 
all trouble, for he had not forgotten when 
he was young himself, and was always sure 
to sympathize and help. So that evening he 
went up to Uncle Dick’s room, and told him 
the whole story. He did not laugh at him, as 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 225 


Carl half expected ; on the contrary, he seemed 
unusually thoughtful. 

Why do you believe I really did see some- 
body?” asked Carl. 

I don’t know, Carl,” said his uncle ; 
maybe, and maybe not. There ’s certainly 
something strange about our thief, and queer 
things have been seen and heard in those 
woods. I Ve often had half a mind to explore 
them, and now you ’ve got a sort of a clue 
to the spot to look, I don’t know but I ’ll 
spend a day out there, before long. Hunt- 
ing — of course,” he added with a peculiar 
look, which Carl understood to mean that 
the object of the expedition was to be a 
secret. 

We must take our guns, boy,” he went 
on, for of course you ’ll go with me.” 

Oh, yes ! ” Carl cried eagerly. I believe 
I can show you the very spot.” 

Well,” said Uncle Dick thoughtfully, let 
me see — suppose we go to-morrow.” 

Next morning the two hunters, declining 
numerous offers of company, shouldered their 


226 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


guns and started for the woods. They fol- 
lowed the trail, which was a faint path, said 
to be an old Indian trail, till they came about 
to where Carl remembered finding it on that 
morning. A half-hour’s search brought them 
at last to the tree with H cut in its bark, and 
while Carl climbed it to look for his game- 
bag, Uncle Dick examined the surroundings. 

There was nothing peculiar to be seen. The 
ground was covered with dead leaves, and was 
a gradual slope to the top of a hill. He was 
about to give up the search, sure that there was 
nothing there, when he stumbled over some- 
thing which proved to be a small pipe sticking 
two or three inches out of the ground. Even 
then he would not have noticed it, but chan- 
cing to be directly over it, he saw that it was no 
bit of old rubbish, but a small stove-pipe, ex- 
tending into the ground, and empty as far as 
he could see. This roused him to closer search, 
and after placing Carl against the tree, and 
making him point out the very spot where the 
vision seemed to disappear, his labors were con- 
fined to a few feet. Striking the earth with his 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 227 

ramrod, he at length touched a spot which 
sounded hollow. 

Hastily brushing away the dead leaves, he 
brought to light a board about two feet square. 
It was so near the color of the leaves that it 
could scarcely be seen, and on closer exami- 
nation proved to be covered with enameled 
cloth. 

Ah ! ” he exclaimed. Now we Ve got 
him ! ” and he tried to lift the board. But the 
edge overlapped a flat rock, and he could not 
stir it. 

Locked up, eh?’’ said Uncle Dick. 
think it ’ll not be burglary to break that lock. 
It ’s well I have the power to arrest him.” 

^^Who do you suppose it is?” asked Carl 
eagerly. 

Of course it’s no one but our cunning 
thief,” said Uncle Dick, putting the end of a 
stout stick that he had cut in position to pry 
open the strange door, Carl meanwhile stand- 
ing one side, to be out of the way in case of 
a rush. 

There was a strain, a slight cracking, some- 


228 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


thing yielded, and in a moment the board rose 
from its place and disclosed the entrance to 
a hole which appeared to lead into the earth. 

It was big enough for a man to crawl 
through, and Uncle Dick threw down his stick, 
took off his coat, and prepared to enter. 

Oh, don’t go in ! ” cried Carl excitedly. 

Shoot in ! maybe it ’s a bear ! ” 

Uncle Dick turned and faced his nephew. 

Bears don’t usually make wooden doors, 
and hang them with hinges,” he said. Only 
a two-legged bear would take so much pains 
to hide his den. But when I get started down. 
I’ll take my gun. It’s best to be prepared 
for anything.” 

When he had scrambled down a few feet, 
the passage turned to the level, and grew 
somewhat wider. Then Carl handed down the 
gun, and in a moment Uncle Dick disappeared. 
He was gone so long that Carl was beginning to 
get frightened, when at last his head appeared 
at the entrance, and he beckoned his nephew 
to come down. 

Carl scrambled down, and in a moment or 



CARL HANDED DOWN THE GUN 








A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 229 


two stood in a small room, the queerest place 
that can be imagined. Except for the absence 
of windows, one would not think of being 
entirely underground. It was about eight feet 
square and six feet high, all nicely boarded 
up, sides and ceiling, and papered with illus- 
trated newspapers. There was a small stove, 
with a pipe going up through the roof, — 
being, of course, the one that Uncle Dick had 
stumbled over. There was one chair, a small 
table, a shelf with a dozen books, a gun, a tiny 
cupboard with a few dishes, and a little food. 
On the table burned a lamp which showed all 
these things, and, in fact, it was an extremely 
cosy and comfortable home. On one side of 
the room, on a narrow lounge, wrapped in a 
blanket, lay the owner and builder — sound 
asleep. 

He was not much more than a boy, per- 
haps twenty years old, bleached quite pale by 
his confinement from the light, but looking 
strong and muscular enough to warn the un- 
invited visitor to keep tight hold of his gun. 
While they stood there, the sleeper opened his 


230 HARRY’S RUNAWAY 

eyes, and in an instant sprang to his feet 
with, ‘‘ What do you want here ? ” 

want you, my man,’^ said Uncle Dick, 
to answer to the charge of theft ; and if I 
don’t mistake,” he added, after a closer look, 
^^you answer to the name of John Bradley.” 

I don’t know as my name ’s any business 
of yours, Dick Marsh,” said he sullenly. 

^^Then you really are John!” said Uncle 
Dick with amazement. And have you lived 
in this hole ever since you disappeared from 
Hillside — let me see — five years ago ? ” 

Supposing I have, what of it ? ” said 
Bradley defiantly. 

Oh, nothing, only it accounts for some of 
the strange stories floating around the vil- 
lage. But come ; let ’s get out of here.” 

Let me shut up before I go,” said Bradley. 

Shut up 1 ” laughed Uncle Dick ; much 
good that’ll do. I don’t suppose there’s a 
boy in Hillside but ’ll be in this cave before 
to-morrow night. Wild horses could n’t keep 
them out of such a curious place. Why, man 1 
you don’t expect to spend another five years 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 231 


here, do you, when every baby in Hillside will 
hear about it in a few hours?” 

Evidently that thought had not occurred to 
him. He gave a lingering look around his 
room, and Uncle Dick, who was watching him 
keenly, noticed that his glance rested on one 
particular spot. A thought struck him. 

By the way,” he said carelessly, I may 
as well search for your bank. Of course 
you Ve been able to save a penny in your pecul- 
iar way of getting your living,” and he went 
at once towards the point he had noticed, tap- 
ping the wall as he passed. In a moment he 
struck a hollow spot, and prepared to break it 
in ; but the prisoner spoke. 

Don’t force it. I ’ll open it. It has every 
cent I have in the world, but it’s money 
honestly earned.” 

As how?” asked Uncle Dick sarcastically. 

Selling skins of animals that I caught at 
night,” said Bradley. 

Who buys skins in Hillside? ” asked Uncle 
Dick incredulously. 

No one that I know of, but some one does 


232 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


at Waterford/’ and at this he threw open a 
small door in the wall, covered like the rest 
with a picture. It hid from sight a small niche 
in which lay a bag half filled with gold pieces. 
Uncle Dick took it out. 

This I shall count here in your presence,” 
said he, ^^and seal up till you’ve had your 
trial, when the court will say what shall be 
done with it.” 

This took some time, but at length they got 
away; and taking Bradley’s arm to prevent 
his running away. Uncle Dick marched his pris- 
oner to the village. 

Never was such a sensation created in that 
quiet town. Uncle Dick, of course, would not 
stop to explain, but Carl, who was bursting with 
the news, managed to whisper it to some of the 
boys, who spread it far and wide ; and before 
the jail lock had fairly turned upon him, the 
whole town knew that the mysterious thief 
was caught, and had turned out to be John 
Bradley. 

The story of this boy had almost been for- 
gotten, but it was now revived, and told with 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 233 


fresh interest. He was the son of a poor widow, 
and rather an odd boy always. He never seemed 
to care for playmates, but always wandered 
off alone, generally in the woods. He went to 
school till he was nearly fifteen years old, when 
his mother died, and he grew more odd and 
silent than ever. He lived alone in the cottage, 
and would go off and be gone days together, 
no one knew where. 

Finally there was a robbery of a store in 
town, and suspicion fell upon him, though it 
was afterwards proved that he had nothing to 
do with it. This made him bitter against the 
villagers, and soon afterwards he disappeared. 
Nothing more was seen of him, and he was 
supposed to have run away to sea, and after 
a while he was forgotten. 

At first, in jail, he was very sullen, and re- 
fused to say anything, but little by little Uncle 
Dick had by many kindnesses won from him 
his story. He had always known of the cave, 
and he had, after his mother’s death, taken his 
only pleasure in fitting it up to live in. When 
suspicion was directed to him, he resolved to 


234 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


live there altogether, away from the world, 
which he fancied was all against him. Hunt- 
ing was his only enjoyment, and by hunting 
he resolved to live, sleeping daytimes, when 
people were out, and hunting by night, when 
animals were out. 

But another passion grew within him, for 
money; and at last he fell into the way of 
stealing what he needed for his living, and 
saving the money he received for skins. But 
for that unfortunate greed for gold, he might 
have been an innocent though eccentric hermit 
all his life ; now, he was a thief in the hands 
of the law. 

But the last act of this strange story drew 
near. One morning, before the trial, the jail 
was found open and the prisoner gone. A 
note to Uncle Dick was found in his aban- 
doned cell, in which he said that he should 
never be seen in Hillside again, and asking 
that his money be used to pay for the things 
he had stolen, and he would begin the world 
anew. 

He was pursued, but never found, and his 


A BOY’S DEN IN THE WOODS 235 


money was used as he wished. Years afterwards, 
when Carl had almost forgotten his night in 
the woods and its strange consequences, Uncle 
Dick received a letter from John Bradley, in 
Australia, saying that he had worked his way 
as a sailor to that land, and after all these years 
had become a farmer for himself, and was liv- 
ing a respectable life. 

The strange little underground house was 
of course visited, as soon as its whereabouts 
were known, by every boy in the village, as 
Uncle Dick had predicted, though not until 
its furniture had been removed was its posi- 
tion made pubhc. For a while it was an object 
of great interest, and boys with lanterns and 
torches searched it, looked at the pictures on 
the walls, and in fact wore the entrance into 
almost a highway. But as time went by it was 
forgotten, its walls caved in, animals took pos- 
session of it, and at last accounts, the place 
where it had been could hardly be found. 

A good many days had now passed since 
Harry’s runaway, and newer subjects had come 


236 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


up to interest people. Stories of runaways 
became scarce, and Harry hoped he had 
heard the last about the pranks of mischievous 
boys. In fact, he was so relieved that he had a 
good laugh over something that happened to 
his friend Joe. 


CHAPTEE XIII 


THE DOG’S REVENGE 

J OB had been bragging. That ’s the way the 
trouble began, and that ’s the way a good. deal 
of trouble begins, among big people as well 
as among little ones. 

Ned Willis bad a dog — a little fellow — 
named Spot ; and he bad been displaying bis 
tricks to Joe that day. In an unlucky moment 
Joe began to brag about bis brother’s dog. 
Max. 

Ned did n’t believe that a big dog could 
be so funny as a little one. Then Joe waxed 
warm, and told stories bigger than ever. But 
Ned laughed at his pretensions, and taunted 
Joe to such a pitch that he told him he 
would go over to his brother’s and get Max, 
if he would wait; and they would see what 
he would do. Ned said he would wait ; so he 
threw himself on the grass and played with 


238 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


Spot, while Joe went after Max. In a few 
minutes he returned, followed by a large 
black Newfoundland dog. 

Now what ailed Max that day I can’t ima- 
gine. Whether it was too warm, or he thought 
it undignified before a small dog, though he 
often went through all his tricks for Joe — 
played dead dog, shook hands, held a piece 
of meat on his nose, etc. — not a thing would 
he do that day. He just stood there and 
wagged his tail and looked at Joe. All the 
commands, shouts, and coaxings had no more 
effect on him than on the grass he stood on. 

Ned began to laugh derisively, and say, I 
told you so,” and otherwise exasperate Joe, 
till his angry passions rose to a fearful height. 

He seized a stick which he had tried to 
make Max jump over, and, holding the dog’s 
collar in one hand, he gave him several hard 
blows. Max finally jerked away and ran yelp- 
ing home, and Joe sat down on the grass to 
cool, feeling very hot and angry. 

Joe thought that was the end of it; but 
not so Max. In his doggish soul his wrongs 


THE DOG’S REVENGE 


239 


rankled, and an opportunity soon came for 
him to punish his enemy. 

Later in the day Joe went up to his bro- 
ther’s house for milk. The family happened 
to be all away, but that made no difference ; 
for they always left the pail standing on the 
kitchen table, all ready, and Max was too 
good a watch-dog to allow any stranger to 
come in. 

As usual, Joe walked into the house, took 
up the pail, and turned to go. But a growl 
arrested him. He looked around. There stood 
Max, his white teeth uncovered, his tail hang- 
ing down, his whole attitude meaning business. 

Poor dog,” said Joe, and stooped to pat 
him, though rather nervously; for he well knew 
Max could be very fierce. 

At this movement the dog gave a fiercer 
growl, and Joe hastily drew back. 

“ Poor doggy ! poor Max ! good fellow ! ” 
said Joe, in his most seductive tone. But Max 
growled, his eyes looked red and wicked, and 
Joe knew that if he moved he would fly at him. 

Well, I may as well wait till some of them 


240 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


come in,” said Joe to himself, and turned to 
sit down. Max flew at his foot, and held his 
head there with an ominous growl. Joe dared 
not move. 

I ’ll put this pail down, anyway,” was his 
next thought. But Max resented the movement 
of his hand, as well as of his foot, and in un- 
mistakable tones made Joe at last understand 
that he must stand on that spot and hold the 
pail till the family came. 

Here was a fix : Mary waiting at home for the 
milk to put in her custards, Ned Willis waiting 
in the back yard for him to go in swimming, 
and both of them knowing that he had only 
run up for the milk. 

How Ned would tease him ! How Mary 
would laugh at him ! 

Involuntarily he made a movement to go. 
Max was ready for him, and this time seized 
his foot. 

Joe tried to coax him, and he let go ; 
but stood ready for another move. 

Where under the sun are all the family ? ” 
was his next thought. Then he remembered 


THE DOG’S REVENGE 


241 


that his brother was at the office, and would 
not come home till six o’clock, his brother’s 
wife had gone to town with his sister shopping, 
and the girl had gone home for a week. He 
looked at the clock. It was four o’clock — 
two hours before he could hope for release. 
He heard Ned call him. The calls came nearer. 
He was coming after him ! He would catch 
him in this plight! How Joe’s face flushed, as 
he thought of that ! If he could only lock the 
door and put down the curtain. But Max was 
alert; he dared not move. The calls came 
nearer, and at last Ned’s mocking face looked 
in at the open window. 

Why don’t you come along ? ” was his 
question. 

I can’t. I don’t want to,” he stammered. 
Max growled, and Ned saw how it was. 

Oh, ho 1 the dog won’t let you. He re- 
members old scores, eh 1 Say, Joe, why don’t 
you sit down, if you will stay? Aren’t you 
tired, holding that pail ? ” 

So he went on, as boys sometimes will, 
teasing and provoking, till Joe fairly raged. 


242 


HARRY’S RUNAWAY 


^^Ned Willis/’ he said savagely, ^^if you 
don’t shut up, I ’ll pitch this pail of milk at 
you, if Max eats me up ! ” 

Ned saw it was time to stop, so he turned 
away, calling, as he went, — 

I heard Mary anxiously inquiring for you. 
I ’ll stop and let her know you ’ve got a press- 
ing engagement.” 

Well, he did, of course, and as he went 
through the village he told every boy he 
met; and one by one they crept up and 
peeped through the window at the unfortu- 
nate prisoner, each one saying his witty or 
smart thing at Joe’s expense. 

Poor Joe ! It was rather hard. He had 
threatened to fight every boy in town, and 
every muscle ached like the toothache before 
his brother’s wife came in and found him. 

With difficulty she got the dog off, and 
Joe had to confess to the beating. 

He dragged his weary bones home, found 
Mary in a towering passion, no custards for 
tea, and a lecture from his father on cruelty 
to animals. 


THE DOG’S REVENGE 243 

The boys did n’t forget it either, and made 
life a burden to him for weeks. As to Max, 
he did not offer to touch him again ; but he 
never forgave him, and met all his advances 
with a growl. 


OCT 7 ’90^ 



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